Laboratory Worksheet

In this activity, you will complete a virtual experiment to identify the unknown compounds. Use the
interactive on the assessment page to collect your data.
Pre-lab Questions:

1. 1. What are the properties of ionic compounds? They form crystals. They are hard
and brittle. They have high melting points and boiling points. They only conduct
electricity when they are dissolved in water.
2. 2. What are the properties of covalent compounds? They have low melting points and
boring points. They are more flammable than iconic compounds. If they are dissolved in
water they don’t conduct electricity.

3. 3. Which type of compound is salt? Ionic compound.

4. 4. Which type of compound is sugar? Covalent compound.

Hypothesis
Record your hypothesis as an “if, then” statement for the rate of dissolving the compounds: If I put
the ionic compound in the water to dissolve, then it will. If I put the covalent compound in the water it
will not dissolve.

Record your hypothesis as an “if, then” statement for the boiling point of the compounds: If I put the
Ionic compound in water to boil it will then start to boil because it has a higher boiling
point then a covalent compound therefore the covalent compound won’t boil or won’t
boil as fast.
Variables
List the independent, dependent, controlled variables of the experiment.
Independent: Water
Dependent: Hot plate
Controlled: Thermometer and amount of water

Materials
(Note: this is a virtual lab, no materials are needed. The items listed here are the types of items that
could be used in a similar investigation.)

• • a hot plate

• • a thermometer

• • a scale

• • a measuring spoon
 • • water

• • beakers

Procedure
Remember this is a virtual lab. You do not need to actually perform these steps, but follow along and
collect the data!

1. 1. Measure out 100 mL of water into three beakers and label them A, B, and C. Beaker
C will be the control.

2. 2. Then measure 50 grams of unknown compound A into beaker A and stir for one
minute. Measure the amount of undissolved solute and record this in Table 1.

3. 3. Then measure 50 grams of unknown compound B into beaker B and stir for one
minute. Measure the amount of undissolved solute and record this in Table 1.

4. 4. Next, we will test the boiling point of each solution. Place each beaker onto a hot
plate.

5. 5. When the solution boils, use a thermometer to record the temperature. Record the
boiling point for each solution in Table 2.

Data Table 1
Record the amount of solute left after one minute of stirring.

Beaker Amount of Solute at Start Amount of Solute at End

(g) (g)

Solution with Compound A 50

Solution with Compound B 50

Plain water in Beaker C 0 (control group)

Data Table 2
Record the the boiling point for each solution.

Beaker Temperature at Start (ºC) Temperature at Boiling Point

(ºC)
Solution with Compound A 23

Solution with Compound B 23

Plain water in Beaker C 23

Analysis and Conclusion

1. 1. Which compound dissolved more easily?

2. 2. Which compound had the lower boiling point?

3. 3. Are the answers to 1 and 2 the same compound? What does this tell you about the
strength of the bonds in this compound?

4. 4. Which compound is the sugar?

5. 5. Which compound is the salt?