Synthesis Lab Report

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the properties and identity of an unknown white compound, and create a synthesis reaction to verifiably produce one gram of the compound. The compound was identified as sodium acetate using solubility, ion, pH, flame, and acidification tests. For both the unknown and synthesized compounds, the solubility test was positive, the pH test result was 7.5, and the acidification test produced a strong vinegar smell, all of which were results consistent with known properties of sodium acetate. Additionally, the cation/anion and flame tests were conducted comparatively with sodium acetate and the unknown compound to show that neither contained ammonium, halide, sulfate, or carbonate ions, and that both burned with a bright orange or yellow flame. Lastly, the synthesis reaction was then conducted to produce sodium acetate through a reaction of sodium hydroxide and acetic acid. The reaction produced 0.972 grams, for a total percent yield of 94 %, and the product was verified as sodium acetate.

Introduction Since the beginning of modern science, one of the central themes of chemistry has been to discover and interpret the way elements and compounds form, interact, and shape the world around us. More recently, this has even expanded to creating elements that are not

Identifying unknown compounds is a crucial application of chemistry, regardless of the situation, and there are many techniques that can be employed to achieve the same goal. Both this experiment and the research intended to develop a way to quickly and accurately identify a compound, and used known chemical principles to decisively predict the its properties. Discovering that information is important in both situations, as it allows the experimenter to safely handle and dispose of an unknown