Identifying Unknown Subtances

1778 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Solubility test lab

Identifying Unknown Substances

The goal of Project 11 is to identify an unknown substance that we were given. This project was split up into 2 weeks. The first week my group and I identified our substance by going through multiple tests like: a solubility test, conductivity tests, pH tests, anion test, and cation test. For the second week we had to confirm our unknown substance.

For the solubility test we were told to try and dissolve our unknown substance into water (H20), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Toluene, and Acetone. Our unknown substance was soluble in water, but not soluble in Toluene or Acetone.Our substance dissolved in water that means that it has to be some type of ionic compound. But, if our substance dissolved in Toluene, which is an organic solvent, then our substance would be non-polar. From these results we concluded that our substance was ionic because substances dissolve in other substances that are similar to it: “like dissolves like.” A substance will dissolve in something that it is similar to.

The next test we performed was the conductivity test. To carry out this test we had to take 1g of our unknown sample and mix it with 10 mL of water. Our TA told us that if the voltage meter gave us a positive number, then our substance would be considered conductive. Conductivity tells how well water can pass an electrical current. When inorganic substances are dissolved in the water it will greatly change the conductivity of water. Inorganic substances like sulfate, chloride, and nitrate will affect the water and create a high conductivity. The conductivity of distilled water is 0.5-3 Ohms. The reading the voltage meter gave us was a 84 Ohms, this is considered to be very conductiv...

... middle of paper ...

...Cooperative Chemistry Laboratory Manual. 5th. United States of America: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 59-61. Print.

Helmenstine, Anne. "Purple Fire & Potassium." About.com Chemistry . About.com , 14 Nov 2011. Web. 2 Mar 2014. .

Hemenstine, Anne. "What is Litmus Paper?." About.com Chemistry . About.com , 9 Jan 2009. Web. 17 Feb 2014. .

.ResearchGate. ResearchGate, 26 Mar 2013. Web. 2 Mar 2014. .

"Water: Monitoring & Assessment." EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency . N.p., 6 Mar 2012. Web. 2 Mar 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • Mystery White Solid Lab Report

    264 Words  | 1 Pages

    Solid A was identified to be sodium chloride, solid B was identified to be sucrose, and Solid C was identified to be corn starch. Within the Information Chart – Mystery White Solid Lab there are results that distinguishes itself from the other 4 experimental results within each test. Such as: the high conductivity and high melting point of sodium chloride, and the iodine reaction of corn starch. Solid A is an ionic compound due to its high melting point and high electrical conductivity (7), within the Information Chart – Mystery White Solid Lab there is only one ionic compound which is sodium chloride, with the test results of Solid A, it can be concluded that is a sodium chloride. Solid B was identified as sucrose due to its low electrical

    Read More

  • Unknown White Compound Lab Report

    324 Words  | 1 Pages

    The purpose of the Unknown White Compound Lab was to identify the unknown compound by performing several experiments. Conducting a solubility test, flame test, pH paper test, ion test, pH probe test, conductivity probe test, and synthesizing the compound will accurately identified the unknown compound. In order to narrow down the possible compounds, the solubility test was used to determine that the compound was soluble in water. Next, the flame test was used to compare the unknown compound to other known compounds such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and calcium carbonate. The flame test concluded that the cation in the unknown compound was potassium. Following, pH paper was used to determine the compound to be neutral and slightly

    Read More

  • Mystery Powder Lab Report

    1260 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ost likely to be battery acid. If it is water, it has a Ph level of around 7. For vinegar, the Ph level is approximately 2.4 - 3.4. Thus, once testing the liquid compare it with the Ph levels above to discover the mystery solution.

    Read More

  • Unknown White Compound

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Solubility test was used to determine if unknown white compound was soluble in water. To conduct the solubility test, many materials were used such as flask, glass rod, scale, and chemical used was unknown white compound. First, 0.25 gram of unknown white compound carefully measured on scale. Then, the 0.25 gram of unknown white compound added to 100 mL of water and dissolved it using the glass rod. While the unknown

    Read More

  • The rate at which Alka-Seltzer tablets reacts with water

    3766 Words  | 8 Pages

    This would give us an extra measure of accuracy each time. Another way to improve the experiment and to produce consistent readings was to used distilled water. This is because the distilled water contains no impurities and therefore no hardness in water.

    Read More

  • Detecting Signs Of Chemical Change

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    Put 1mL of 0.1M cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate dissolved in 95% ethanol into a test tube. Then add 1mL of deionized water. Tap the end of the test tube to mix the solution and record the pertinent data in section 2 of the Data Table. Discard the solution in the appropriate container as directed to you by your lab instructor.

    Read More

  • Deciphering Mixture Components Through Separation Techniques

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Based on our observations during the separation techniques and some speculation, we were able to identify eight components of our mixture: graphite from the filtration residue, Epsom salt from crystallization, water and acetic acid through distillation, red and orange dye, iron metal, marble chips, and sand.

    Read More

  • Explain Why 1-Butanol Is Soluble In Hexane

    499 Words  | 1 Pages

    1-Butanol with intermediate polarity was soluble in both highly polar water and non polar hexane as 1-butanol can be either polar or non polar compound. 1-Butanol was polar based on the general rule of thumb stated that each polar group will allow up to 4 carbons to be soluble in water. Also, 1-butanol can be non polar due to their carbon chains, which are attracted to the non polarity of the hexane.

    Read More

  • Self-Analysis Essay of a Writer

    1134 Words  | 3 Pages

    ---. “The Clean Water Act—Is it Successfully Reducing Water Pollution?- Final Draft.” UTSA: WRC 1023, 11 Apr 2014. Print.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Documentary Film "Flow- For the Love of Water"

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    Whether we want to believe it or not water pollution is one of the world’s l...

    Read More

  • Hydrochloric Acid And Solid Sodium Chloride Lab Report

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    The simplest experiment for this type of situation would be to use red and blue litmus paper to distinguish between acids, bases and salts. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) makes blue litmus paper change color going from blue to red, making it an acid. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) makes red litmus paper change color going from red to blue, making it a base. Sodium chloride solution (NaCl) is neutral, since it would only soak blue and red litmus paper, considering that it is a by product of when an acid and a base mix together, neutralizing each other.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Ocean Pollution on the Environment

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Water Pollution." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Causes, Effects and Solution of Water Polution

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hennigan, Robert D. "Water Pollution." Oxford University Press 19.11 (1969): 976-78. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Problem of Water Scarcity

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    The. Drinking Water: A History. New York: Overlook Duckworth, 2012. Print. The.

    Read More

  • The Responsible Use of Water

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    "World Water Council - World Water Council." World Water Council - World Water Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .

    Read More

More about Identifying Unknown Subtances

Open Document