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Introduction
Melting point is the temperature at which the process of turning the solid state into its liquid
form. In this experiment, it illustrates on the ranges, behavior, and factors that affects the melting point
of a given substances. Each substance corresponds to a specific melting point at which changes of
matter can be seen through this stage. Identifying the melting point of the substances is an important
part in working at the laboratory because it helps us identify the purity of the substance wherein higher
melting point leads to an impure substance while lower melting point shows a pure substance. As
students who are taking the course of BSMLS, it is important for us to know about melting points of each
substance in order for us to distinguish and determine a certain substance or chemicals with an
unknown identity. This experiment also discusses on the forces that holds the substances together and
its relation to melting point. Doing this experiment helps us understand and examine how melting point
become a great factor in knowing what a substance is and its behavior towards this transition.
II. Objectives
The proponents were able to:
1. Observed the melting point of each substances,
2. Identified the forces that hold the particles together,
3. Distinguished the purity of the substances, and
4. Determined the ranges on where the melting point of the substance starts to appear.
III. Methodology
IV. Results and Discussion
In table 1, it was observed that the Salicylic Acid crystals melted quickly and yielded a
transparent liquid and left scorch marks when it started to burn but, on the other hand the
Sodium Chloride was still intact and did not proceed to melt yet. The proponents also found that
Sodium chloride has an ionic type of bonding because by common knowledge, ionic bonds are
formed through a metal and non-metal and since Sodium (Na) is a metal and bonded with
Chlorine (Cl), a non-metal, it can be then said that Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound
whereas Salicylic Acid is a covalent bond since a non-metal bonded with another non-metal as
seen in table 1. With that observation, the proponents then inferred that the intermolecular
forces of Salicylic Acid has a weak electrostatic and Sodium Chloride has an intermolecular force
with a strong electrostatic force. According to Helmenstine (2019), ionic compounds have higher
melting points due to its coulombic force, a coulombic force is where opposite charges are
greatly attracted to each other so meaning ionic compounds have higher energy attraction thus,
a lot of energy is needed in order to break those bonds to let them melt or boil, the stronger the
force of attraction a compound has, the higher the melting point, on the other hand, covalent
bonds have lower melting point due to them having a weaker force of attraction because they
lack an overall electric charge, thus a lower melting point. This proves that what the proponents
inferred were correct, that Sodium Chloride has an intermolecular force with a strong
electrostatic nature and that Salicylic Acid has an intermolecular force with a weak electrostatic
nature.
Based on the results of the experiment that was conducted, the melting point of each
substance were observed when the researchers applied heat to the different substances
throughout the experiment. Furthermore, the forces that hold the substances, Sodium Chloride,
Salicylic Acid, Oxalic Acid, and Benzoic Acid, together were identified and this force is called
Intermolecular Force, which are the forces that mediate interactions between molecules, which
includes attraction and repulsion. Thirdly, the purities of the substances were distinguished by
comparing the melting point observed of the substances throughout the experiment to their
theoretical temperature and it was observed that the melting point in the experiment were
significantly lower than the theoretical temperature of the substances, thus deeming the
substances impure. And lastly, the range of where the melting point of the substance starts to
appear was determined by observing the following; the initial temperature of each substance
before heating them, the temperature of when the substances start to melt, and the final
temperature which is when the substance turned into liquid completely.
VI. References
Brittain, C. G. (2009, May 18). Using Melting Point to Determine Purity of Crystalline Solids [PDF
File]. Retrieved from
https://www.chm.uri.edu/mmcgregor/chm228/use_of_melting_point_apparatus.pdf
Gillespie, C. (2018, April 13). What Factors Affect Melting Point? Retrieved from
https://sciencing.com/factors-affect-melting-point-8690403.html
Helmenstine, A. M. (2019, May 11). This Common Kitchen Staple Is a Perfect Example of an Ionic
Compound. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/ionic-compound-properties-608497