Expt # 2

Date: 3rd October ,2018.

Title: Properties of ionic and covalent substances

Aim: To classify compounds as ionic or covalent based on their physical properties.

Apparatus/ Materials:

Hot Plate Conductivity Tester

Aluminium Weighing Dish 6 Mini spoons

Six Well Tray Distilled Water

6 Toothpicks 6 Unknown Samples

Diagram:

Procedure:

1. The 6 unknown samples were labelled A - F.

2. An aluminium weighing dish was taken and the tab was labelled A. One-half of each of the
unknown compound were placed in the dish in the order of Figure 1. The mini spoon designated
for each specific compound was used.
3. The physical appearance of each compound was observed and recorded in the data table.
4. The hot plate was turned on and when heated the aluminium weighing dish was placed on it.
5. The order in which the samples melted was recorded in the data table. After 2- 3 minutes of
heating, compounds that did not melt were recorded with an “N”.
6. The dish was discarded after being left to cool for 3 minutes.
7. The six well tray was labelled A - F.
8. In the well corresponding to each unknown compound, the mini spoon designated for each
specific compound was used, and one-quarter of a mini spoon of each compound was placed in
each well.
9. From a wash bottle, enough distilled water was used to cover the bottom of each well. Each well
was stirred with a different toothpick. It was observed and recorded whether any of the
compounds dissolved.
10. A conductivity tester was set up as shown in Figure 2.
11. The conductivity of solution A was tested by placing both paper clips into the liquid. The paper
clips did not contact each other.
12. The paper clips were rinsed with distilled water from a wash bottle. The paper clips were dried
with a paper towel.
13. The remaining solutions B – F were tested in the same way. The paper clips were rinsed and
dried before each test. The results for each test were recorded in the data table.
14. Based on the data collected, the compounds were decided as ionic or covalent. The conclusions
made were recorded in the data table.
Results and Observations:

TABLE SHOWING THE DATA COLLECTED OF EACH CHEMICAL THROUGH OUT THE EXPERIMENT

Unknown Appearance Melting Solubility in Conductivity of Bond type

chemical Point water aqueous solution
A Hard crystalline structure N Soluble Conductive Ionic
B Grainy white crystalline 3 Soluble Conductive Covalent
structure
C Hard small crystals N Soluble Conductive Ionic
D Small grained white 2 Soluble Conductive Covalent
powder
E Small white power, N soluble Conductive Ionic
crystalline structure
F Rugged, white grains. 1 Partially Conductive Covalent
soluble

Discussion

1. Atoms form chemical bonds to achieve stability. Elementary atoms are usually generally high
energy and highly reactive, so they form chemical bonds to become stable. Chemical bonds are
formed when electrons are transferred from an atom to another to achieve to full shells. These
electrons can be completely transferred, or they can be shared.
2. Ionic bonds are formed between a metal atom and a non-metal atom. The metal atom loses its
electrons completely and forms a cation and the non-metal atom gains the electrons and forms
an anion. However, in covalent bonding the atoms involved are non-metal atoms. These atoms
share electrons to achieve full shells.
3. The chemical bonds formed change the physical properties of elements involved because these
elements are not reactive and are stable. Reactive elements have different physical states from
when they are stable, hence when these elements are stabilized their physical properties
change.
4. All the solutions are conductive because all were able to be dissolved in water, which is a polar
substance. However, the luminosity of the light bulb changed with various compounds. Ionic
compounds are good conductors of electricity and can completely dissolve in water whereas
covalent compounds act as weak conductors or insulators, therefore covalent compounds
generally either do not dissolve in water of they dissolve partially in water. The compounds that
caused the light to shine brighter when electricity flowed were considered to be ionic whereas
when the light was dimly lighted the compound was considered to be a covalent compound.
5. Compounds A, C and E all had high melting points, since they did not melt during the time
tested; this result corresponds to the physical characteristics of ionic compounds. Compounds B,
D and F all melted during the experiment, so they had low melting points which therefore
means that they are covalent compounds.
6.

Physical Property Ionic Covalent

Appearance Hard crystalline structure Weak powders
Melting Point high Low
Solubility in water Soluble Insoluble or Partially soluble
Electrical conductivity in Yes No (insoluble compounds)
aqueous solution Yes (partially soluble
compounds)