Experiment 10

Properties of Ionic and Covalent Compounds

OBJECTIVES
1. To understand ionic bond, nonpolar covalent bond and polar covalent bond.
2. Describe the characteristics of ionic and covalent compounds, and compare some of their
physical and chemical properties.
3. To learn how to use the extraction method to extract a solute from one solvent to
another.
4. To learn the polar and nonpolar properties of soaps and detergents.

INTRODUCTION
The physical and chemical properties of a compound depend on the types of bonds
between the atoms. Ionic compounds and covalent compounds are two major types of
compounds.

Ionic compounds consist of positively and negatively charged ions held together by the ionic
bond, the electrostatic attraction of oppositely charged particles. A simple example of this type
of bonding is sodium chloride, NaCl. In sodium chloride compound, each sodium atom has lost
an electron to acquire one positive charge and each chlorine atom has gained an electron to
acquire one negative charge. The compound is held together by attractions between the positive
sodium ions and the negative chlorine ions. Another example is calcium bromide, CaBr2, in
which each calcium atom has lost two electrons and each bromine atom has gained one electron,
and there must be two bromide ions for each calcium ion in order for the compound to be
electrically neutral. The third example is ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, which consists of two
polyatomic ions, an ammonium ion, NH4+, and a nitrate ion, NO3-. In this example, the atoms
within the polyatomic ions are held together by covalent bonds, discussed below, while the
compound as a whole is held together by attractions between the positive ammonium ions and
the negative nitrate ions. The higher the charge, the greater the attraction and the stronger the
bond.

Atoms in covalent compounds are attached to each other by covalent bonds that are formed
from the sharing of a pair of electrons between neighboring atoms. Since nonmetals form
negative ions, when nonmetal atoms bond together, the covalent bond is formed by the sharing
of electrons between the atoms, not by the attraction of oppositely charged ions.

Here is a video to help with ionic and covalent bonds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_k0kr2eZSQ
There are two main types of covalent bonds, nonpolar covalent bond and polar covalent bond.
If the atoms that form a covalent bond are identical, as in H2, Br2, and other diatomic molecules,
then the electrons in the bond must be shared equally. We refer to this as a nonpolar covalent
bond. Electrons shared in nonpolar covalent bonds have an equal probability of being near each
nucleus. When the atoms linked by a covalent bond are different, the bonding electrons are
shared, but no longer equally. Instead, the bonding electrons are more attracted to one atom than
the other, giving rise to a shift of electron density toward that atom. This unequal distribution of
electrons is known as a polar covalent bond, characterized by a partial positive charge on one
atom and a partial negative charge on the other. The atom that attracts the electrons more
strongly acquires the partial negative charge and vice versa. For example, the electrons in the
H–Br bond of a hydrogen bromide molecule spend more time near the bromine atom than near
the hydrogen atom. Thus, in an HBr molecule, the bromine atom carries a partial negative charge
and the hydrogen atom has a partial positive charge.

Here is a video to help with ionic, polar covalent, and non polar covalent compounds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NQzcpWvq4g

Whether a bond is nonpolar or polar covalent is determined by a property of the bonding atoms
called electronegativity. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract
electrons towards itself. It determines how the shared electrons are distributed between the two
atoms in a bond. The more strongly an atom attracts the electrons in its bonds, the larger its
electronegativity. Electrons in a polar covalent bond are shifted toward the more electronegative
atom; thus, the more electronegative atom is the one with the partial negative charge.
Electronegativity increases as you go across the period and decreases as you go down the group
in the periodic table.

Here is a video to help with electronegativity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9n2-gkVsaw

Some molecules contain polar covalent bonds, such as CCl4(C−Cl) and CO2 (C−O), but if the
charges are arranged symmetrically around the atom, there is no net separation in the overall
molecule, and the resulting molecule is a nonpolar covalent compound. A dipole is a molecule
that is electrically asymmetrical, that is there is partial separation of charge within the molecule.

Here is a video to with whether a molecule is polar or non polar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiZXRScxbl0

The most common polar covalent compounds are molecules that contain one of the following
combinations: hydrogen bonded to oxygen, hydrogen bonded to nitrogen, and hydrogen bonded
to fluorine. Because of the strong charge separation within these molecules, they behave as small
polar magnets and attract neighboring molecules oriented so that the positive end of one
molecule is attracted to the negative end of an adjacent molecule. This intermolecular attraction
between separate polar covalent molecules (dipoles) is called hydrogen bonding.
Here is a video to help with hydrogen bonding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDjJOqOKeCI

Water, in which two hydrogen atoms are attached to an oxygen atom is an example of a polar
covalent compound. Within the molecule, the two hydrogens have partial positive charges and
the oxygen has a partial negative charge.

Both the physical and the chemical properties of ionic and covalent compounds derive from their
electrical structure. A summary of some of their properties is presented in the following table.

Property Type of Compound

Ionic Polar Covalent Nonpolar Covalent
Physical state at
room temperature solid gas, liquid, or solid gas, liquid, or solid

Melting point Very high Relatively low Low

Insoluble in water,
Solubility* Many but not all are Soluble or partially soluble soluble in each other
water soluble in water and each other unless extremely large
Rate of Fast between ions in Slow, often need a catalyst Slow, often need a
replacement double replacement or energy source such as catalyst or energy source
reactions reactions heat or light such as heat or light

Here is a video about properties of ionic and covalent compounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ6_8iMd8YM

Solubility: In general, like dissolves like. Thus, a polar covalent compound such as water will
dissolve many ionic compounds as well as other polar compounds, but will not dissolve nonpolar
covalent compounds. A nonpolar covalent compound will generally dissolve other nonpolar
covalent compounds. Liquids that dissolve with each other in all proportions are said to be
miscible. Liquids that do not dissolve with each other and form layers are said to be immiscible.
Long molecules are not very soluble in any substance as forces between molecules become
strong and separation is difficult. A molecule that is miscible in both polar and nonpolar liquids
must have a polar part and a nonpolar part within the same molecule.

Here is a video about miscibility

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap2t0ApIQrY
CHM 130LL Experiment 10 Name: Sandra Montero Villamizar Class number: 21555

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS

1. Explain the difference between a nonpolar covalent bond, a polar covalent bond, and an ionic
bond.
An ionic bond is the electrostatic attraction of oppositely particles. The nonpolar bond
occurs when atoms that form a covalent bond are identical and the electrons are shared equally,
while a polar bond is the unequal distribution of electrons.

2. From its position in the periodic table, determine which atom in each pair is more
electronegative:

(a) N or O: O

(b) S or O: O

(c) S or P: S

(d) N or Si: N

(e) Ba or P: P

3. Distinguish the difference physical properties of ionic and covalent compounds.

a) Are ionic compounds or covalent compounds usually soluble in water? Explain.

Many ionic compounds are soluble but not all are water soluble. Polar covalent compounds
are soluble or partially soluble in water. However, nonpolar compounds are insoluble in water.

b) Do ionic compounds or covalent compounds have a high melting point? Explain.

Ionic compounds have a very high melting point, polar compounds a relatively low melting
point and nonpolar compounds have a very low melting point.

4. Define the term Extraction.

Extraction is the method to remove a solute from one solvent and dissolve it in a second
solvent that is immiscible from the first one.
CHM 130LL Experiment 10 Name: Sandra Montero Villamizar Class number: 21555
DATA/OBSERVATION

A. Melting Points of Typical Ionic and Covalent Substances

Place a pea-size quantity of each of the following substances on a square of aluminum foil,
fold up the sides, and place the foil on a wire gauze over a Bunsen burner. Heat each
sample cautiously for a few seconds and compare your observations. Fill in the table
below. Here is a video of this reaction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5px-PsPgB-w

Substance Formula Classification Behavior on Heating

(ionic or covalent?)
sodium chloride NaCl Ionic No change

sugar C12H22O11 Covalent Melts

B. Miscibility of Liquids

1. Define “miscible”
Two liquids are said to be miscible if they mix in all proportions or form one layer.

Here is a video to for this section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neS6Tm_HXKE

2. Using the video of mixing oil and water what happens when you mix the oil and
water together: they form two layers. Explain why this happens in terms of polar vs
nonpolar: This happens because water is polar and oil nonpolar, so their molecules
are not attracted to each other.
3. Which is the top layer WATER OR OIL (circle one)

4. Why are the layers in this order thinking back to what we learned in lab 3

Because oil has less density than water.

An emulsifying agent (such as soap or detergent) is a substance that bonds to molecules in

both layers of an immiscible mixture, and causes the mixture to appear homogeneous. Such
emulsifying ability is limited, and sometimes only lasts for a short period of time.

What happened when the soap was added to the mixture?

The soap allowed the water and oil to stay mixed together for some time.

Why did this happen? AND, why does this make soap a good detergent?

This happened because soap has both properties, polar and nonpolar. The polar end of the
soap mixes with the water and the nonpolar end dissolves in the oil. Since the soap molecule is
soluble in water and can dissolve fat, it is a good detergent.
C. Extraction Here is a video for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bZl7mcG0Ew

Extraction is a process used to remove a solute from one solvent and dissolve it in a
second solvent that is immiscible from the first solvent. In effect, the solute will migrate
from one solvent layer to another based on which solubility it prefers. Extraction is
frequently used when more than one product is formed in a reaction and the desired product
has solubility characteristics that allow it to be removed from the rest of the mixture by this
technique.

1. Pouring 50 mL of iodine/water mixture in a separatory funnel and adding 25 mL non

polar cyclohexane. Invert and shake and set aside until clear layers are formed. What is
the top layer of your separated mixture? Cyclohexane.

2. After your 2nd extraction does your water layer contain more or less iodine? Less.

3. Why is it necessary to do more than one extraction? (explain) So that the residue
of the Iodine is less, letting the extraction be more complete

4. Is Iodine Polar or Non polar? Nonpolar, how do you know? Because it is a diatomic
molecule (I2).

QUESTIONS

1. Classify the following compounds as ionic or covalent.

CCl4 Covalent NaNO3 Ionic NH4Cl Ionic

NH3 Covalent H2O Covalent K2SO4 Ionic

2. Which of the compounds in question 1 above can you be certain are solids at room
temperature? (Hint: see table of properties)

K2SO4, NH4Cl, NaNO3

3. Explain from your observations of your oil and water mixture experiment why they are
miscible or immiscible.

Oil and water are immiscible because water forms a polar covalent bond and oil forms a
nonpolar covalent bond. Therefore, they do not mix with each other.

4. In general, detergents are long molecules with a polar end and a nonpolar end. How does
 this explain their ability to remove oily stains from clothing in your washing machine?

Water is not attracted to oil. However, when the nonpolar end of soap gets in contact with
the oil, they will mix with each other. The polar end will be attracted to water and not oil. With
many polar ends sticking out, water will be attracted to the oil drop and keep it suspended in
water.