TITLE: Properties of molecular and ionic solids

AIM: To investigate the solubility and electrical conductivity of molecular and ionic solids

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS:

i) Iodine

ii)Sugar

iii) Calcium chloride

iv) Magnesium oxide

v) Distilled water

vi) Hexane

vii) Electrometer

viii) Spatula

ix) 4 beakers (100ml)

x) 4 petri dishes

xi) Analytical balance

xii) Pipette

METHOD 1: Solubility of iodine, sugar, calcium chloride and magnesium oxide in water and hexane

A. 0.5g of iodine, sugar, calcium chloride, magnesium oxide was measured and placed
into a separate beaker.
B.    10cm3 of water was added to each beaker.
C.    Observation was recorded.
D.    Step A. was repeated.
E.     10cm3 of hexane was added to each beaker.
F.     Observation was recorded.

METHOD 2: Electrical conductivity in solutions

A.    The beaker with iodine, hexane, sugar in water, magnesium oxide in water and
calcium chloride in water were selected.
B.    Electrodes of the electrometer was placed in each solution.
C.    Observations were made and recorded.
 Solids water Conductivity in Hexane Conductivity in
water hexane
Sugar Yes Yes No No
Calcium Yes Yes No No
chloride
Iodine No No Yes No
Magnesium Partially Yes No No
oxide
Table showing the results of the experiment

Discussion: The sugar is a covalent bond. Calcium chloride is ionic bond. Iodine is a covalent bond.
Magnesium oxide is an ionic bond.  Sugar dissolved in the water and conducted electricity in water but
didn’t dissolve in hexane and didn’t conduct electricity in the hexane solution. Calcium chloride
dissolved in water and conducted electricity in water. Calcium chloride didn’t dissolve in hexane and
conducted electricity in hexane. Iodine dissolved in water and conducted electricity but dissolved in
hexane and didn’t conduct electricity.