Anion And Scientific Discussion Essay

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Discussion and Scientific Explanation
Our first goal in Project 7 was to determine what our three unknown solutions were. We did this through a series of tests. Our first test was a series of anion tests. We performed anion tests to determine whether any of the following anions were present in our solution: chloride, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, and acetate. Our first solution, labeled as B, had only the chloride test come out positive. The next solution, C, tested positive for acetate, as did our last solution, E. We next performed anion tests. These included flame test, as well as an ammonium test. For the flame test, certain cations turn flames different colors, so we used this knowledge to test to see which cations could be present in our solutions. During this test, the only solution that appeared to turn the flame any color was solution C, which turned the flame bright orange, indicating the sodium ion was present. This led us to the conclusion that solution C was sodium acetate. We next performed an ammonium test, which involved mixing our solutions with sodium hydroxide, and smelling the resulting solution in order to detect an ammonia smell. Solution B was identified as smelling like ammonia, indicating the presence of the ammonium cation. From this, we identified solution B as ammonium chloride. We next checked the pH of all three of the solutions, first by using litmus paper. Solution C was slightly basic, solution E and B were both acidic, with a pH around 4. Since we knew that solution E had acetate, and was acidic, and did not turn the flame any color, we determined it was acetic acid, as none of the ions in acetic acid would turn a flame any color.
Once we identified our substances, we began our titrations. This ...

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...for the original titration, shown in Table 5. This could be due to perhaps usage of the wrong indicator, or of not stopping the titration exactly when the color changed.
The next week was dedicated to the titration of household supplies. For this, we used two sodas, Cheerwine, and Diet Coke, as well as dish soap. Dish soap, along with many other household cleaning agents, has buffering properties. A buffer acts as a pH stabilizer. It is a combination of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base combined with its conjugate acid. If a strong acid ion is added, the buffer simply replaces it with a weak acid ion, therefore causing little change in the pH of the solution. Household cleaning products usually have some form of a buffer, because otherwise, they would burn skin to touch. As expected, the two sodas were originally acidic, while the soap was basic.

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