Dissecting a Compound

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I. Identifying an Unknown Compound

Purpose/Problem: In this lab we had to figure out what our mystery compound was by performing two tests. One of the tests was called the Flame Test, which we use to find out the metal element in the compound. It is used to find the metal because each metal gives off its own unique flame color. The other test is called the Precipitate Test, which we use to find out the non-metal element in our compound by adding silver nitrate to it. It’s used to find the non-metal because each non-metal has its own unique reaction to silver nitrate.

Conclusion:

In this lab we had to figure out what our mystery compound was by performing two tests. One of the tests was called the Flame Test, which we use to find out the metal element in the compound. It is used to find the metal because each metal gives off its own unique flame color. The other test is called the Precipitate Test, which we use to find out the non-metal element in our compound by adding silver nitrate to it. It’s used to find the non-metal because each non-metal has its own unique reaction to silver nitrate.
I figured out that my unknown compound is SrNO3 (Strontium Nitrate). The metallic ion in this compound is Strontium (Sr). I figured this out in the flame test because I recorded that SrCl2 had an orange-red flame, and that’s also the same color flame that my unknown compound had. I knew that Strontium was the metal in that compound since it was said first in the formula, so I didn’t include Chloride.
I knew that my non-metallic ion was Nitrate (NO3). I found this out after doing the precipitate test. I tested each known compound with silver nitrate as well as my unknown compound and found that it reacted by turning foggy, just like Sodium Nitrate. I saw in that formula that Nitrate was the non-metal since it was stated last, so I didn’t include Sodium.

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