Powder Crystal Shape Color Solubility pH HCl Iodine Notes

Sodium Acetate powder - irregular white yes 8 none none endothermic and has a distinctive sweet
shape odor
*Sand random white no 6 none none; bad odor does nothing, may have black specks
Calcium powder white no 6 fizz none; the color looks sort the powder itself is very airy and hole-y
Carbonate of like mustard/peanut Used in agriculture, as a calcium
(limestone) butter supplement, and an antacid.
Vitamin C grains white yes 2 none clears it may have a colored tint- green, yellow,
Ascorbic acid acid pink, orange (if from tablets). Distinctive
smell. acid
used in supplement tablets
*Salt (NaCl) signature square white yes 7 none none delayed reaction with iodine (may be
grains difficult to observe) only one to have
square grains
*Sugar grains white yes 7 none none Similar to salt but grains are slightly
(Crystal) rounded
*Flour powder Off-whit no; lumpy 6 none blackens it - iodine Clumps with water
e clumps together, unlike
cornstarch
*Cornstarch powder white no - forms 8 none blackens it pure white, feels slippery
solid-liquid used in cooking
substance
*Gelatin grains tan no; turns into gel 6 none none Only one to swell in water
*Alka-Seltzer powder white yes 6 fizz fizz fizzes with everything including water,
used as painkiller
Yeast pellets tan no 7 none none generally easy to identify since it smells
sort of like bread most of the time only
brown material
*Baking Soda powder white yes 8 extremely none; more red-brown rough texture (kinda)
fizzy for a than Plaster of Paris used for hygiene and cleaning
long while

*Gypsum powder white no 6 none none hardens in water, Calcium carbonate 2

H20
Gypsum uses include: construction
materials

Metal Color Density Water HCl Magnetic Notes

delayed reaction with HCl, dull, very malleable.
Aluminum gray light none little fizz no

very easy to ID only metal with a color other than grey (or
Copper copper heavy none none no
similar). Used in electrical equipment.
delayed reaction with HCl and smells bad, almost like rotten
Iron black heavy none fizz yes
eggs only Magnetic one
Tin gray light none little fizz no yellow tint, often fairly shiny
Shiny, will react vigorously (but will not steam) with HCl, and
Zinc gray heavy none fizz no
is non-magnetic.
fizzes and loses color; dissolves Dull, will often steam with HCl, and will also let off a strong
Magnesium gray light little no
after a while odor when HCl is added

Fiber Analysis
The first step in fiber analysis is to compare color and diameter. Under a microscope, the analysts look for lengthwise
striations or pits on a fiber's surface, or unusual shapes. In short, the fiber analysts compare shape, dye content, size,
chemical composition, and microscopic appearances.
Fiber Information

Name of Type of
Fact About Fiber Type Microscopic View
Fiber Fiber
 Most commonly used animal
Wool An cylinder with scales
fiber

thin, long and smooth

Silk An Smoother than wool
cylinder

Most widely used plant fiber,

Cotton Veg irregular twisted ribbon
fairly short fibers

fibers generally longer & smooth, bamboo like

Linen Veg
smoother than cotton structure

completely smooth
Polyester Syn fibers can be any length
cylinder

fine, round, smooth,

Nylon Syn long fibers
translucent

can stretch to eight times its Flattened, ridged fibers,

Spandex Syn
original length clustered
Chromatography: put line 1 inch from bottom, hung so bottom barely touches solvent. Chemicals will separate into bands. RF is distance traveled by compound/distance
traveled by solvent.

● Sodium: golden yellow flame, very distinct. Even a small amount of sodium will contaminate other compounds.
● Lithium: carmine or red flame
● Calcium: yellow-red flame
● Boric Acid: bright green flame, very visible
● Ammonium Chloride: faint green flame
● Potassium: light purple, lavender flame
● Iodine: When iodine is added to cornstarch, the sample will turn black. If cornstarch is not present, the iodine will remain brown.
● Sodium Hydroxide: Sodium hydroxide is used simply to categorize your samples into two fields: NaOH reactive- and non-reactive. For this reason, it is
extremely useful when using a flowchart. To perform this test, a few drops of NaOH are added to a small sample of chemical dissolved in water. If a milky-white
precipitate forms, the sample is NaOH reactive. If a precipitate does not form, the sample is NaOH non-reactive.
● Hydrochloric Acid: Hydrochloric acid will react when added to samples containing carbonates--therefore, it is useful in identifying calcium carbonate, sodium
carbonate, and sodium hydrogen carbonate.
● Benedict's solution: Benedict's solution is used to detect reducing sugars such as glucose. To perform this test, dissolve a small sample of chemical in water in a
test tube. Add two to three drops of Benedict's solution, then place the test tube in a hot water bath. If the glucose is present, the sample will react and form an
orange precipitate. This test may take a few minutes; be patient. An important fact to note is that sucrose will not react with Benedict's solution but glucose will.
Benedict's solution can also be used to test for ammonium chloride. Adding a couple of drops will turn the sample a dark blue.
● Water: Water is used for determining the solubility of chemical samples, and is used for making solutions.
The pH data for chemicals can be useful, especially for determining between two similar chemicals. Most samples have a pH of between 5 and 8, but there are several
chemicals that have distinct pHs. For example, sodium carbonate has a pH of 10, and boric acid has a pH of 4.
There are many different kinds of pH paper, sometimes also called litmus paper, that can be used to perform this test. Any kind should do. The test involves dissolving some
of the dry powder in water, dipping the end of the pH paper in the solution, and comparing the resulting color to the palette on the package to see which pH value corresponds
to it.

Conductivity

Certain chemical samples will dissociate and become conductive when dissolved in water. To perform this test, dissolve a small sample of dry chemical in water. Using a
9-volt conductivity tester will determine whether a sample is conductive or semi-conductive. This data is especially helpful when following a flowchart, and is the most
useful for identifying ionic compounds.

Solubility

All samples can be divided into two fields--soluble and non-soluble. Water is used to perform this test.

● Soluble Samples: sodium acetate, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, lithium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium nitrate,
glucose, sucrose, magnesium sulfate, boric acid, ammonium chloride
● Non-soluble Samples: calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, cornstarch
A word of caution: every compound has a unique solubility product constant (Ksp), which indicates the amount of compound that can dissolve in a given volume of water
before it reaches a point where no more of that compound can dissolve in the solution. This is called saturation. Because of this, it may be possible for a powder to appear to
not be dissolving in water if there is too much of it and not enough water. Be careful of this when observing solubility, and, when in doubt, go for using smaller quantities of
the sample.

Polymers
Methods of Identification

● Burn test--fibers and hair only

● Density in liquids--oil, water, alcohol, etc.--plastics
● Microscope--useful for distinguishing different hairs and fibers
Hints Burn tests for fibers, when permitted, will usually be done with a small candle (Bunsen burners are too hot). Burn tests on plastics will not be permitted at the event,
but burn test results may be provided. If not, it is important to know densities and other identifying properties. Common liquids used to test plastic densities include water,
vegetable oil, isopropyl alcohol, and NaCl solution (10%, 25%, and saturated).

Plastics

Plastic Abbrev Densit Monomer Unit Structure Other Key Features Commonly Used to Make
iation y

Polystyrene PS ~1.05 Polymerizes by addition, reacts with Styrofoam, tableware, coffee cups, toys, lighting, signs,
g/cm^ acetone insulation
3

Polypropylene PP ~0.90 Polymerizes by addition Food containers, medicine containers, automobile

g/cm^ batteries, carpet, rope, plastic wrap, lab equipment
3

Polyvinyl PVC ~1.38 Burns green polymerizes by addition Food packaging, shampoo containers, construction
Chloride g/cm^ (ahem PVC pipes ... you see them often), tiles, credit
3 cards

Low-Density LDPE ~0.92 Polymerizes by addition, ethylene Food containers (specifically bags), grocery bags, plastic
Polyethylene g/cm^ monomer units branch out more than wrap, etc.
3 HDPE

High-Density HDPE ~0.95 Polymerizes by addition, monomer units Food containers, bags, lumber, furniture, flower pots,
Polyethylene g/cm^ more linear signs, trash cans, toys
3

Polycarbonate PC ~1.20 Polymerizes by condensation, clear Shatterproof glass, eyeglass lenses

g/cm^
3

Polyethylene PETE ~1.37 Polymerizes by condensation, shrivels Soft drink bottles, carpet, fiberfill, rope, scouring pads,
Terephthalate g/cm^ with heat fabric, Mylar
3

Polymethyl PMMA ~1.16 Polymerizes by addition, reacts with Plexiglas, glass substitute
Methacrylate g/cm^ acetone
3

Just to clarify how LDPE differs from HDPE:

(Lines represent the connected ethylene monomer units)

Fibers

There are three types of fibers: animal, vegetable, and synthetic/man-made. Each of these types of fibers behaves differently in different tests, but generally, fibers of the same
type will react in a similar way.

Burn Test

● Animal fibers shrivel but don't melt

● Synthetic fibers melt and shrivel; loose ends fuse together
● Vegetable fibers do not melt or shrivel, but they ignite easily and usually appear charred after being burned.

Other Useful Facts

● Animal fibers dissolve in bleach, but the other types will not react at all (nice to know although the bleach test isn't available during competition)
● Smoother fibers are more likely to be synthetic
● Synthetic fibers are generally uniform in thickness, whereas natural fibers vary.

Human , squirrel, bat, cow, horse