GENERAL CHEMISTRY

(CHM420)
LABORATORY REPORT

NAME: HUSNA INSYIRAH BT SAMAD

STUDENT ID: 2017411714
EXPERIMENT 1: IDENTIFICATION OF A COMPOUND
LECTURER’S NAME: SHARIL FADLI MOHAMAD ZAMRI
PARTNER’S NAME: NOR AINA ATHIRAH BT MOHD ROZI & NIK
AISYAH FARHANA BT HILALUZZAMAN
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 25/9/2017
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 8/11/2017
TITLE
Identification of a Compound

PURPOSE

1. To identify a compound based on the characteristics of its chemical properties.

2. To determine the identity of given unknown compounds based on their chemical
properties.

INTRODUCTION
Generally, experiments are carried out to understand, explain and finally to predict various
chemical phenomena. Experimental works involves using the fundamental steps of a
scientific process called the scientific method. Making observations is one of the prior step
that should be taken in this method. Observations can be both qualitative and quantitative.
Quantitative observations are something like measurements and involve numbers and units.
A qualitative observation does not involve a number and measurements. Experiments
involve gathering information or data from observations which will then help to predict
identities of unknown solutions or reactions of known solutions.

In this experiment, we are going to perform chemical reactions and observe the chemical
changes to the see the characteristics of various compounds under controlled conditions.
We will be required to observe each of the following known and unknown solutions and
record the data from experiments involving known reagents compound. Then based on the
observations, we need to predict the identities of some given ‘unknown’ solutions.

Chemical reactions are usually accompanied by chemical changes which may involve one or
more of the following:
a) A gas is evolved and this process may be rapid or slow with a “fizzing” sound.
b) Heat may be evolved or absorbed. An exothermic reactions gives off heat while an
endothermic reactions absorbs heat. The reaction vessel will feel warm for an
exothermic reaction and cool to the touch for an endothermic reactions.
c) A precipitate may formed. It is useful to observe the texture and colour of the
precipitate.
d) Odour may be detected. There could also be a change in odour for example more
intense, less intense or different odour.
e) A change in colour of the solution may occur.
CHEMICALS AND APPARATUS
Apparatus:
-Test tubes
-Test tube rack
-Dropper pipet
Known solutions: Unknown solutions: Test Reagents:
0.2M NaCl Solution 1 0.2M AgNO 3 (aq)
0.2M Na2CO3 Solution 2 0.2M NaOH (aq)
0.2M MgSO4 Solution 3 0.2M HCl (ag)
0.2M NH4Cl Solution 4

PROCEDURE
A. Observations of Chemical Properties of Unknown Properties

1. Observations with silver nitrate test reagent

1. Four small test tubes were cleaned and labelled.
2. The labelled test tubes were filled with 5-10 drops of every of the five ‘known’
solutions.
3. Several drops of silver nitrate test reagent were placed into each of the labelled test
tubes by using a dropper pipet.
4. The observations were recorded in Table 1.
5. A chemical change was observed after adding the several drops of silver nitrate test
reagent. Then, 5-10 more drops were added to observe the changes. Observations
were recorded.
6. The test solutions were kept for part B.
7. Complete the observations by writing chemical equations for the changes reactions.
II. Observations with sodium hydroxide test reagent
1. Four small test tubes were cleaned and labelled.
2. The labelled test tubes were filled with 5-10 drops of every of the five ‘known’
solutions.
3. The five ‘known’ solutions were added with several drops of sodium hydroxide test
reagent. Observations recorded in Table 1.
4. The test solutions were kept for part B.
5. Complete the observations by writing chemical equations for the changes reactions.

III. Observations with hydrochloric acid test reagent

1. Four small test tubes were cleaned and labelled.

2. This third set of labelled test tubes were filled with 5-10 drops of every of the five
‘known’ solutions.
3. The ‘known’ solutions were added with several drops of hydrochloric test reagent.
4. Observations recorded in Table 1.
5. The test solutions were kept for B.
6. Complete the observations by writing chemical equations for the changes reactions.

B. Chemical Properties of Unknown Compounds

1. Four ‘unknown’ solutions were placed in the clean test tubes labelled 1 to 4.
2. The experiment was repeated by using the given reagents to identify the unknown
solutions.
3. Observations recorded in Table 2.
4. All of the four ‘unknown’ solutions was identified based observations.
DATA
QUESTIONS
a. Identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Mg2+ and Na+
.Explain.
Based on the table, NH3 is a reagent that can distinguishes the chemical properties of
Mg2+ and Na+. This is because when magnesium ion reacts with NH3, the solution
produced white precipitate. Magnesium ion is an insoluble salt. While when NH 3
reacts with sodium ion, there is no change in the solution.

b. Identify the reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Mg2+ and Ag+.
Explain.
The reagent that distinguishes Mg2+ and Ag+ is HCl and NH3. When magnesium ion
reacts with NH3, white precipitate is produced as metals from group 1 is soluble salt.
White precipitate is formed when silver ion reacts with HCl because AgCl will be
produced as the product which is insoluble salt.

c. Identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Cu2+ and Ba2+.
Explain.
The reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Cu2+ and Ba2+ are NH3 and
H2SO4. White precipitate is formed when barium ion reacts with sulphuric acid as
barium ion is insoluble. When copper ion reacts with ammonia, it forms blue
precipitate or deep blue solution with excess which means copper ion is excess.

d. Identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of HCl and H 2SO4.
Explain.
The reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties og HCl and H2SO4 are silver
ion and barium ion. When HCl reacts with silver ion, the solution will produce white
precipitate as HCl contains a soluble salt (Cl). White precipitate also formed when
barium ion reacts with H2SO4 because most sulphate are soluble salt.

2. Three colourless solution are placed in test tubes with no labels. Lying beside the test
tubes are three labels: 0.10M KCO3 , 0.10M HSO4, and 0.10M NaOH. You are to place the
labels on the test tubes using only the three solutions. Here are your tests:
Test 1: A few drops of the solution from test tube #1 added to a similar volume of the
solution test tube #2 produces no visible reaction but the solution becomes warm.
Test 2: A few drops of the solution from the test tube #1 added to a similar volume of the
solution in test tube #3 produces carbon dioxide gas.
On the basis of your experiment above, how would you label the three test tubes?
Based on the information test 1, we know that:
K2CO3 (aq) + NaOH (aq) → KOH (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq)
The solution produced is warm because when potassium carbonate reacts with sodium
hydroxide, it will produce heat to break the bond.
Based on the information test 2, we know that:
K2CO3 (aq) + HSO4 (aq) → KSO4 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. Thus, we can conclude that test tube 3 is H 2SO4.
Test tube 1 is K2SO4 and test tube 3 is NaOH.

DISCUSSIONS
In this experiment, we are going to identify four unknown solutions based on their chemical
properties that we observed. The known solutions that have been prepared for us are
sodium chloride, sodium chlorate, magnesium sulphate and ammonium chloride. The test
reagents that we used to react with the unknown solutions are silver nitrate, sodium
hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.

NaCl (aq) + AgNo3 (aq) → AgCl (aq) + NaNo3 (aq)

When sodium chloride reacts with silver nitrate, it will produce silver chloride and sodium
nitrate. The solution will produce white precipitate as predicted.
2AgNo3 (aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) → Ag2CO3 (aq) + 2NaNO3 (aq)
Silver carbonate and sodium nitrate will be produced after adding silver nitrate into sodium
carbonate. The solution will form yellow precipitate as expected.
AgNO3 (aq) + NH4Cl (aq) → AgCl (aq) + NH4NO3 (aq)
After adding silver nitrate into ammonium chloride, silver chloride and ammonium nitrate
will be produced. White precipitate produced from the solution.
MgSO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) Na2SO4 (aq) + Mg(OH)2
When magnesium sulphate reacts with sodium hydroxide, it will produce sodium sulphate
and magnesium hydroxide. The solution turns cloudy as predicted.
NH4Cl (aq) + NaOH (aq) NaCl (aq) + NH3 (g) + H2O (l)
When ammonium chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide, it will produce sodium chloride,
ammonia gas and water. Pungent smell will formed from the solution.
Na2CO3 (aq) + 2HCl (aq) 2NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
The reaction between sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid will produce sodium
chloride, water and carbon dioxide gas. There was no bubbles gas formed from the solution
as expected. This is because the concentration of the sodium carbonate is only 0.2M which
is very low concentration to produce bubble gas.

After we tested solution 1 with sodium hydroxide, the solution turns cloudy. So, we can
conclude that solution 1 is magnesium sulphate. Bubble gas was present when solution 2
reacts with hydrochloric acid. Thus, we know that solution 2 is sodium carbonate as carbon
dioxide is produced. Solution 3 and solution 4 have quite similar characteristics. But,
solution 4 produced pungent smell when reacts with sodium hydroxide. Then, we know that
solution 4 is ammonium chloride and solution 3 is sodium chloride.
There may be some errors during the experiment which lead to the negative result. The test
tubes we used are not clean enough to be filled with solutions. Besides, if we wrongly
labelled the test tubes, the solution may be exchanged with one another and the
observations will be different as expected. To avoid this errors during experiment, we need
to clean all the test tubes we used with distilled water. Then, the test tubes should be
labelled correctly so that we are observing the correct solutions.

CONCLUSION
1. Based on the observations from the experiment, we have identified the unknown
solutions from the chemical properties.
2. Solution 1 is magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), solution 2 is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3),
solution 3 is sodium chloride (NaCl) and solution 4 is ammonium chloride (NH 4Cl).

REFERENCES
1. Basic Chemistry, 9th edition International Students Version Leo J Malone (Saint Louis
Urov, Southwestern Illinois College)
2. Chemistry for Matriculations College semester 1, 5 th Edition, Oxford Fajar
Publications.
3. Raymond Chang and Kenneth A. Goldsby, chemistry, eleventh edition published by
Mc Graw Hill copyright 2013.