Chem211E Organic Chemistry

Semester 1, AY2021-2022
Activity 06 (Water: Its Properties and Purification)

Students

List the name of students in the group and indicate each student’s contribution in accomplishing the
laboratory report.

Students ID Number Contribution

Concepcion, Diana 21-02316 Water Purification (Experiment 3)
Editor
Conclusion
Del Rosario, John Guiller 21-10093 Water Purification (Experiment 4)
Conclusion
Labrador, Jhon Mar 21-01275 Water Purification (Experiment 1)
Conclusion
Mateo, Cherilyn 21-10005 Water of Crystallization
Conclusion
Mosquito, Shane 21-20039 Dissolved Salts in Water
Conclusion
Rivera, Michael 21-22993 Water of Crystallization
Conclusion
Salvio, Mariel 21-20745 Water Purification (Experiment 2)
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Conclusion
Santiago, Keren Joy 21-21765 Compounds Solubility to Water
Conclusion
Siriban, Dulce 21-40008 Dissolved Salts in Water
Conclusion
Ziganay, Claire 21-40030 Compounds Solubility to Water
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Conclusion

Laboratory Report

Objectives:

The main objectives of the experiment included determination of some chemical properties of water
and the identification of common water impurities. Specifically, it aims:
1. To observe solubility of common compounds to water;
2. To determine the formation of hydrates or water of crystallization; and
3. To distinguish techniques in separating compounds and impurities present in water.

Introduction:

Water is an essential compound necessary to sustain life on Earth. With this, it is a major component
in all living organisms and it is anomalous in physical and chemical properties. Its chemical composition
consists of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom; the way that these atoms have bonded makes water
a universal solvent. Water is the only natural substance that exists in three states of matter. In addition,
water is a very polar molecule that can make strong electrostatic interactions with itself, other molecules,
and ions. Water’s polarity allows it to dissolve other polar molecules and repel nonpolar molecules. This
dissolving power of water is vital for life on Earth for wherever water goes, it carries dissolved chemicals,
minerals, and nutrients that are used to support living things. Also due to its high polarity, water has a
high surface tension that enables it to produce a “skin” on water, strong enough to hold very light objects.
In addition, certain compounds also react with water in a reaction called hydrate formation. Hydrates
contain water molecules bound to another compound or element and they are formed when natural gas
and water combine at low temperature and high pressure.

One form of water impurity is water hardness. According to World Health Organization (2011), water
hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium salts in water. Minerals enter the water through
the weathering of rocks. There are also two types of water hardness: temporary and permanent.
Temporary hardness is caused by the presence of a bicarbonate ion and it can be removed through boiling
techniques. On the other hand, permanent hardness is caused by the presence of chlorides, nitrates,
sulfates, magnesium, or calcium. Ions causing the permanent hardness of water can be removed by using
a water softener or an ion-exchange column. As water is the universal solvent and dissolves almost all
materials upon contact, water can be easily polluted. Another example of unsafe or impure water is Total
Suspended Solids (TSS) such as dust, sand, clay, and rust. Rather than dissolving, TSS remains suspended
in water causing it to appear muddy or cloudy. If consumed, suspended impurities in the water can result
in a range of medical ailments and illnesses. This proves the necessity to filter or process the impurities
present in water to consider it safe for consumption. Water purification removes contaminants that may
remain in drinking water, improving water quality and taste. Access to safe and clean water is vital for
one’s health.

Materials:

List the compounds studied and the reagents used in the experiment. In addition, enumerate the
materials and types of equipment used to perform the experiment. Follow the below table to indicate your
answers in this part of the report.

A. Compounds solubility to water

Experiment Reagents Material and Equipments
● Salt
● sugar
A. Compounds solubility ● chalk powder ● Beakers
to water ● starch ● Stirrer
● baking soda
● Water

B. Dissolved salts in water

Experiment Reagents Material and Equipments
● Hard Water
A. Dissolved salts in ● Salt ● Salt water
● Tap water
water ● Water
● Metal plate
● Alcohol burner

C. Water of crystallization
 Experiment Reagents Material and Equipments
● Copper
● Sulphate crystals
● Copper ● Alcohol burner beaker filled
Experiment 1 ● Sulphate crystals with water
● Water ● Petri dish
● Tong
● Spatula
● Crucible
● Tong
● Crystals water ● Bunsen, tripod and pipe clay
Experiment 2
● Magnesium sulphate triangle
● Electronic balance
● Spatula

D. Water purification
Experiment Reagents Material and Equipments
● 2 Beakers
● Tea Strainer
Mud + Water = Muddy
Experiment 1 ● Piece of cloth
Water
● Funnel
● Filter Paper
● Beakers
● Test tubes
● Humic Acid
● Graduated Cylinders
● Aluminum Sulfate
Experiment 2 ● Volumetric Flasks
● Sodium Hydroxide
● pH meter
(6.25mL)
● Turbidity meter
● Coffee filter paper
● Distillation flask
● Water and Acetone ● Thermometer
Experiment 3
Solution ● Condenser apparatus
● Condenser outlet
● Borosilicate glass
● Distilled Water
● Spoon
Experiment 4 ● Salt
● Battery
● Vinegar (for disposal)
● Protective gears

Methods:

Discuss the procedure done in each test based on the videos presented. Describe the methods as
completely as possible.

A. Compounds solubility to water

Procedures:
1. Prepare all the needed materials
2. Fill each beaker with water.
 3. Take a pinch of each substance. Feel each of them and find out whether they have coarse or
fine grained texture.
4. Add equal quantities of each substance in the beakers.
5. Stir them, and observe which substances have dissolved in the water and which have not.

B. Dissolved salts in water

Procedures:
1. Light the alcohol burner then put a few drops of the samples which are the hard water,
saltwater and tap water.
2. Then boil it until it evaporates.

C. Water of crystallization
Experiment 1
Procedures:
1. First, take some crystal copper sulphate in the test tube.
2. Second, gently heat the copper sulphate crystals in the evaporating dish.
3. Then, observe water vapors coming out on hot copper sulphate crystals and also notice the
beautiful blue crystals that turn into white. Stir it until the copper sulphate crystals become
white.
4. After the copper sulphate flamed in the alcohol burner, put it in a clean petri dish.
5. Let the anhydrous white powder of copper sulphate cool and pick a pinch of it and feel. It
feels dry and powdery.
6. Lastly, add a few drops of water to anhydrous salt, therefore it turns out that the salt
regains its color and crystalline shape.

Experiment 2
Procedures:
1. Weigh a crucible, and record the mass value in your result tables.
2. The measure of the crucible is 35.63g. And then add approximately 2 grams of magnesium
sulphate wherein the crucible and hydrate Magnesium sulphate is 37.66g. As we subtract the
value of hydrated magnesium sulphate and the weight of crucible the total mass of hydrated
magnesium would be 2.03 g.
3. After measuring its crucible and the mass of the magnesium sulphate crystals, put the
crucible on the pipe clay triangle and gently heat for 5 minutes.
4. And then lift its crucible cap gently on only one side using the tong to make sure any water
vapor is not trapped inside the crucible.
5. After 5 minutes heating the crucible, the crucible will lift to cool and as it lifts it on again the
water vapor in the atmosphere is not recrystallize within the structure of the magnesium
sulphate.
6. Re-weigh the crucible containing the now white crystals. And calculate now the water loss
of the anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the mass of the anhydrous MgSO4.
7. To determine the moles of the water, you may divide the mass of the water loss and the
relative mass of water while the moles of magnesium sulphate, you may divide the mass of
the anhydrous sulphate and the relative mass of the magnesium sulphate.
8. Lastly to determine the moles of water to magnesium, you may divide the moles of the water
over the moles of the magnesium sulphate.

D. Water Purification
Experiment 1
Procedures:
Under Sedimentation
1. Take a sample of a muddy water (mixture of soil and water) and place it in a beaker.
 2. Stir the mixture well and leave to settle for a half an hour or more.
3. Wait for the mud to settle at the bottom of the beaker to continue with the next process.

Under Decantation
4. Separate the sediment and the water by removing the water at the top of the settled mud to
an empty beaker by tilting it to separate. The obtained water is now called decantate.

Under Filtration
5. Pour the water (decantate) through a tea strainer notice if there’s a visual change in the
water.
6. If there are no visual changes, use a fine cloth.
7. If there are no visual changes, and the water still has tiny particles on it, use a filter paper (it
has smaller pores which can separate the fine particles from the water).
8. Place the filter paper in the funnel and pour the water obtained from the filtration using fine
cloth.
9. If the water is now clean, and there is a change in its appearance, you can now conclude that
the water is filtered.

Experiment 2
Procedures:
1. Gather all materials and equipment that are necessary in performing the laboratory
experiment.
2. From the amount of lake water, pour some in a test tube for the testing of pH and turbidity
after conducting the experiment.
3. Add humic acid on the little amount of lake water that was filled in an empty beaker.
4. Stir the solution until humic acid is being mixed completely.
5. Then add 6.25mL of sodium hydroxide in the solution and stir it continuously until flocs can
see.
6. Filtering out the flocs from the water through coffee filter paper.
7. Clearer and clean water is now produced. Poured some in a test tube.
8. Testing the before and after sample of lake water using pH and turbidity tester.
9. After testing, you'll determine the differences that occurred.
a. Experiment 3
Procedures:
3. Prepare a solution of Acetone and Water. Place it in a clean and dry distillation flask. In the
opening of the flask, insert a thermometer that fits perfectly in it.
4. Place it in the condenser apparatus. Where there is a flame underneath it.
5. Monitor the temperature of the solution as it boils. Take note that the boiling point should be
maintained.
6. Place the condenser outlet in its place and wait for the vapor to go inside the condenser
apparatus.
7. Collect the condensed vapor as it is the distilled acetone.

Experiment 4
Procedures:
1. Gather all necessary materials.
2. Combine the salt and water solution. (You'll need 10g of salt for every 90g of water.)
3. Stir the solution until the salt dissolves in the water.
4. Submerge two spoons in the water, make sure that they should not touch each other. Then,
at either end of the spoons, place the battery terminals. Observe
5. Try to connect the spoons. Observe the difference.
 6. Cleanse the materials that were used in the experiment. In cleaning use Vinegar by simply
pouring it into the solution to be neutralized for safer disposal.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Summarize, analyze, and discuss the result of the experiments. Discussion must NOT be more than 3
sentences. Follow the below table to indicate your answers in this part of the report.
A. COMPOUNDS SOLUBILITY TO WATER
COMPOUND SAMPLE OBSERVATION
SAMPLE 1 The salt dissolves in water.
SAMPLE 2 The sugar dissolves in water.
SAMPLE 3 On dissolving chalk in water, it
does not dissolve completely in
water. The chalk powder settles
down which can be seen by bare
eyes easily. Therefore, chalk
powder dissolved in water is an
example of a suspension.
SAMPLE 4 The starch does not dissolve in
water.
SAMPLE 5 The baking soda dissolves in
water.
B. DISSOLVES SALT IN WATER
WATER SAMPLE OBSERVATION
SAMPLE 1 When the hard water boils and
evaporates, the salt remains
behind in the form of a residue
as a result the dissolved salt
becomes solid or compact.
DISCUSSION
Salt is made from positively
charged sodium ions and
negatively charged chloride
ions. The oppositely charged
ends of polar water molecules
the ions and pulls away,
resulting in dissolving.
Sugar is made from sucrose
molecules. The sucrose
molecules are attracted to one
another by positive and negative
polar areas. The polar water
molecules attract the oppositely
charged polar areas of the
sucrose molecules and pull them
away, resulting in dissolving.
Chalk is insoluble in water. It
comprises COC3 and as the Cu
and Carbonate bond are very
tightly bonded with each other
thus, chalk remains in its crystal
structure when you put it in
water.
The starch is not soluble in
water because it exists as
crystalline granules which are
not soluble in water.
Baking powder reacts with water
to produce bubbles. Also, baking
powder is soluble in water.
While stirring the water and the
baking powder, it will
completely dissolve.
DISCUSSION
When you boil hard water. The
water molecules evaporate and
become a gas or water vapor
which leaves sodium and
chloride behind. It becomes
solid because salt has a higher
boiling point than water.
 SAMPLE 2 As the saltwater boils and
evaporates, in this case, there is
much dissolved salt and is
scattered everywhere.
SAMPLE 3 When the tap water is heated and
evaporates, it has the least
amount of dissolved salt.
When the saltwater is boiled and
evaporated, it leaves salt
(sodium chloride) in crystallized
form.
When tap water was boiled. It
evaporates leaving the least
amount of salt.

C. WATER OF CRYSTALLIZATION

COMPOUND OBSERVATION DISCUSSION

SAMPLE 1 (𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4) Copper sulphate crystals seem to
be dry containing water of
crystallization. When it heats the
crystals, the water is removed
and the salt turns white. If you
moisten the crystals with water,
you will find that the blue color
of the crystals reappears.
SAMPLE 2 (𝑀𝑔𝑆𝑂4) The hydrated magnesium sulfate
is heated, and it loses its water
of crystallization to form
anhydrous magnesium sulfate
(𝑀𝑔𝑆𝑂4).
This happens because crystals of
copper sulfate the water of
crystallization on heating and it
becomes anhydrous copper
sulphate and also, the lost water
of crystallization is seen as
water droplets on the upper side
of the test tube.
Heating the crystalline
magnesium sulfate loses mass
and the remaining mass is
36.63g of its original mass of
37.66g. After heating, the water
of crystallization is lost by the
substance and only an anhydrous
form is left. The water lost by
magnesium sulfate is
36.63-37.66=1.03g of its mass.

D. WATER PURIFICATION

METHODS OBSERVATION DISCUSSION

METHOD 1 During the process, the muddy water
(SEDIMENTATION) is full of unnecessary particles, so
after leaving it for some time, the dirt
settled from the bottom which
resulted in the separation of mud and
water.
METHOD 2 As we observe in the process of
(DECANTATION) decantation, it is the way of removing
or separating the liquid layer which is
called decantate, from the particles at
the bottom of the beaker. This process
can be carried out by tilting the
mixture after pouring it on the other
empty beaker.
METHOD 3 (FILTRATION) In this video, they used three different
filtering mediums. The first one is the
tea strainer because it has big holes, it
doesn't filter the water. Second is the
fine cloth, it has smaller holes but
still, it doesn't filter the water well.
The process is called
sedimentation. It is where
you let the denser particles
settle the bottom of the
container to separate the
components of the sample
Decantation is the second
process which is the
removal of water above the
sediment. For us to separate
the water from the
sediment, we need an empty
beaker and the water that is
obtained is called decantate.
It is also used to separate
immiscible liquids that have
different densities.
It is the last process in
producing clean water from
muddy water. It undergoes
different filtrating materials
such as tea strainer, a piece
of cloth, and a filter paper. It
 Last is the filter paper, this time, they shows that a piece of cloth
put the filter paper on a funnel at the and a tea strainer is not the
top of an empty beaker then they best choice in the filtration
poured the water into it and it filtered process because it doesn't
out all the tiny particles because filter filter out the tiny particles
paper has the smallest pores thus, completely for it has big
water becomes clearer and cleaner. holes and it shows that filter
paper is more useful for it
has tiny pores, therefore,
producing clearer and
cleaner water.
METHOD 4 Coagulation takes place first. After Coagulation needs to occur
(FLOCCULATION) adding the humic acid, the first to perform
contaminants in the lake water are Flocculation.
still not able to see. Then they added Coagulation is used to
6.25mL of sodium hydroxide to remove solids from water
control pH which brings us between by manipulating
6.4 and 8.3 optimum pH by electrostatic charges of
neutralizing the acid of the alum that particles suspended in
is used. By rapidly agitating the water.
water, the contaminants are now in Flocculation is the process
contact with the aluminum sulfate, of combining coagulated
and coagulation takes place and flocs particles.
are now able to see, floating to the
top. The flocculation process occurs.
Flocs filtered out from the water by
the use of coffee filter paper
therefore, improvements occurred.
Then they the pH and turbidity of the
before and after of the samples:
BEFORE AFTER
Turbidity 24-25 0
Indicating
that
organic
materials
have been
filtered out
completely.
pH 6.4-8.3 6.7
Indicating
that the pH
of the
samples
remained
neutral on
pH of 7.

METHOD 5 (DISTILLATION) The solution of acetone and water is
placed inside the distillation flask
where a thermometer is placed on its
mouth to monitor the boiling point.
As the solution boils the acetone, it
will vaporize and will go into the
condenser. The vapor of acetone will
now condense in the apparatus and
will be collected in the condenser
The process happened on
separating the homogeneous
mixture called distillation.
Distillation is used on
separating the two
components of the mixture
of Acetone and water, as
long as they do not
decompose during the
boiling process and have
 outlet. And that's how they separated
the solution of acetone and water.
METHOD 6 (1) When separate spoons are placed
(ELECTROCHEMISTRY) on each terminal of the batteries,
bubbles (hydrogen and chlorine
gasses) and lye are formed; these
bubbles are harmful to breathe and
can burn skin.
(2) As the reaction progresses, the
color of the solute changes from clear
to yellow, then green, and finally
brown.
enough distinction on their
boiling points. Also, this
process enables the other
component to undergo
evaporation and
condensation for them to
separate.
(1) Water (H20) is a poor
conductor of electricity; but
when salt (NaCl) is
dissolved in it, the
conductivity of water
increases, allowing
electricity to flow through
it, breaking the bonds and
molecules. This frees the
bonds to create new bonds
(like ions), resulting in the
formation of Hydrogen and
Chlorine gasses which are
the bubbles in the
experiment.
(2) The change in color in
the reaction is due to the use
of metal spoons in the
container which causes
solid oxide to form,
producing a very strong
Base called Lye.

Conclusion:
Reiterate general observations on the properties of water and its purification. Integrate concepts
of chemistry in the results of the experiments. The conclusion must NOT be more than 200
words.

Studying the different experiments performed, we are able to observe the properties of water and
its purification.
In compounds solubility to water, we found out that there are substances that dissolve in water,
and others not. Meanwhile, the experiment where we dissolve salt (ionic compound) in different kinds of
water experiences chemical changes as we apply.
Moreover, we are able to study about crystallization and purification of water. Based on the water
crystallization experiment, we can determine the crystallization of water by using stoichiometry or
performing the experiment using magnesium/copper sulfate. In water purification, there are four
experiments performed. First, use of sedimentation, decantation, and filtration in purifying muddy water.
In the first two processes, the two substances were separated and placed in a new container ready for the
third process which is the filtration that’s filtering all the particles in the water. Second, flocculation where
chemicals were used in purifying the water. Third, distillation, it was a separation of a miscible solution
by boiling them in a condenser apparatus. Lastly, electrochemistry where the salt increases the
conductivity of the water causing the bonds to break that create new bonds that produce toxic gases.
References:

List down the references used to accomplish this laboratory report.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. (2021) “Is Dissolving Salt in Water a Chemical Change or Physical
Change?”
American Chemical Society “Using Disolving to Identify Substances”
HowStuffWorks.com (2014) “What Is Baking Powder, and How Does it Work?"
Ganorkar, Pravin. (2015). “Re: How should I proceed to dissolve starch in water?”
Alex Smith (2020) “Did chalk powder dissolve in water?”
https://youtu.be/T-OwWOYHhMl
https://youtu.be/mP4Hgui-g6U
https://youtu.be/x7aMHOrx_74
https://youtu.be/sBCLafMPVt8
https://youtu.be/Hc1lbzNhWzA
https://youtu.be/u8-J6Or-O3U
https://youtu.be/FyGFnfjKcTo
https://youtu.be/9FBpdaokLto