Bronzmer Lai

Name: __________________________________ Period: _______ Date: _______________________

“Shocking” Lab
Pre-lab: In pencil, construct a model of what you think might be in the water.

Ionic Compounds
can conduct electricity
but covalent compounds
cannot, All of the different
compounds in the
water.
There isn't anything in pure water, but water inside
bathtubs aren't pure so there must be some compounds inside.

Procedure:

Part A: Melting Point

1. Place a small sample of each of the six compounds on the labeled metal plate. Make sure they are spaced as
evenly and as far away as possible. Make sure the numbered compounds in your data table matches the labels
on the plate.
2. Place the metal plate on top of the iron ring of the ring stand.
3. Carefully light the burner away from the ring stand and then move it underneath the iron ring after it has been
lit.
4. Make qualitative observations in your data table of which substances melt.

Part B: Solubility

1. Place a small sample of each of the six compounds on the labeled well plate. Make sure the numbered
compounds in your data table matches the labels on the plate.
2. Using a dropper, fill up each of the wells in the well plate with distilled water.
3. Make qualitative observations in your data table of which substances dissolved in the water.

Part C: Conductivity

1. Your instructor will demonstrate the conductivity of the six compounds.

2. Make qualitative observations in your data table of which substances, when dissolved in water, can conduct an
electric current.

Data Table:
 Does it melt? Does it dissolve in water? Does it conduct electricity?

1. calcium chloride Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

2. citric acid Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

3. phenyl salicylate Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

4. potassium
iodide
Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

5. sodium chloride Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

6. sucrose Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

Data Analysis:

1. Put these compounds into groups with as many similar properties as you can. There may not be a group with just
a single compound by itself. When you have decided on groupings, name your groups!

Conductive Not Conductive

Calcium chloride phenyl salicylate
citric acid sucrose
potassium iodide
sodium chloride

Conclusion:

My claim is that there is / is not (circle one) something in the water. My rationale is that

My claim is that there is something in the water. My rationale is that pure water cannot conduct
electricity so that must be something in the water that allows it to conduct electricity.

In a different colored pen or pencil, go back and modify the initial model you made in the pre-lab.