Laboratory 3: Identification of Solids by Physical Properties

Purpose of Experiment /2
To find the unknown solid by conducting some tests for its physical properties (solubility,
density, melting point).

Procedure /2
As per CHEM 16682: Applied Chemistry 1- Laboratory 3: Identification of unknown Solid
by its physical properties
(No changes are made in Procedure)

Observations
Unknown solid sample # _______PPS#120____________
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Part A
Table 1: Solubility of unknown solid
.
Solvent Visual Observations Solubility
Solid crystals settle down
Water Insoluble
(Heterogeneous Mixture)
Complete Solubility, clear solution
Cyclohexane Soluble
(Homogeneous Mixture)
Soluble after shaking some time
Ethanol Soluble
(Homogeneous Mixture)

As per CHEM 16682: Applied Chemistry 1: Laboratory 3: Identification of Solids by

Physical properties
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Part B
Table 2: Density data for unknown solid
Solvent used to conduct density test
___________RO Water__________________________
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Mass (g) Volume (mL)

Mass of weighing
 paper = 0.40 g Initial Volume _5.00 mL_____
Unknown Solid Mass of unknown
solid = 2.00 g Final Volume _6.10 mL_____
Volume of solid 1.10 mL
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Part C
Table 3: Melting Point Range for Unknown Solid
Melting Point (OC)
a. Rough melting point determination

Temperature at which solid started melting:

_54.90C__________________

Temperature at which solid became completely liquid:

_60.70C__________
Unknown
Solid b. Precise melting point determination
#
Temperature at which solid started melting: _
53.10C__________________

Temperature at which solid became completely liquid:

55.70C___________

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Calculations
Part B: Density

Mass of unknown solid (g) /1

 Mass of paper (m1) = 0.40 g
Mass of unknown solid with paper
(m2) = 2.40 g
Mass of unknown solid (m) = (m1-
m2)
= 2.40 g – 0.40 g
= 2.00 g

Volume of unknown solid (mL) /3

 Initial volume of RO water(V1) =
5.00 mL

2
 Volume of RO water + 2 g of
unknown solid gives volume (V2) =
6.10 mL
Volume of solid (V) = (6.10 – 5.00)
mL
V = 1.10 mL

Density of unknown solid /3

 Density = Mass/Volume
m
ρ=
V
2.00 g
¿
1.10 mL
= 1.8181… g/mL
= 1.82 g/mL

With reference to Table 1 in the Applied Chemistry 1 Laboratory 3 procedure

posted on SLATE, identify the name of your unknown solid: p-dichlorobenzene
/1

Make a summary table that compares your experimental data for solubility, density and
melting point to the reference data. The table must be properly labeled and referenced.
Substance Densit Melting Solubility Solubility in Solubility
o
y point( C) in Water Cyclohexane in Ethanol
(g/mL)
Unknown solid 1.82 54.9 i s s
p-dichlorobenzene 1.2475 53.09 i ----- s
s -- soluble, sp – sparingly soluble, i – insoluble
References-

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Calculate the % relative error for your experimental values for density and melting point.

referenced density−Experienced Density

1. % relative error of Density ¿ × 100 %
Referenced density
1.2475−1.82
¿ × 100 %
1.2475
¿ 45.9 %
2. % relative error of melting point

3
 Referenced melting point−Experienced melting point
¿ ×100 %
Referenced melting point
53.09−54.9
¿ × 100 %
53.09
¿ 3.41 %
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Questions

1. Consider your percent relative error calculations, discuss two errors that may
have caused a discrepancy in your results. How could the errors be minimized?
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 After consideration of percent relative error, there are two percent relative error
found in this experiment. 1. Percent relative error of density which is 45.9%. 2.
Percent relative error of melting point which is 3.41%.
 There may have several errors which may have affected the final results such as
density and melting point in this experiment. However, some errors can be
reduced by several considerations.
 Random errors which are not predictable. There may have some random
variations in equipment which are used in the test. But this error can be very
small or ignorable sometimes.
 Random errors may cause by slight variations of observing point while taking
note of result. Random errors can happen because of change in temperature,
vibration of hand while taking notes.
 This error is very hard to reduce. But, it can be reduced by taking many reading
and average them. This can be the solution of reducing the random errors.
 Systematic error which can be occurred by the way of experiment a person did.
Sometimes the balance may not done properly.
 This error can be minimized by changing the way of experiment. A person should
improve the design of the test, which can give more accurate result.

2. Out of the three tests performed today (solubility, density and melting point),
which one do you think is the most accurate? Why?
 Out of the all tests which were performed today. Melting point is the most
accurate among all three tests (solubility, density, melting point).
 Melting point has the least relative percent error which is 3.41%. It is lower than
the relative percent error of density which is 45.9%. So, between the melting
point and density, melting point is most accurate.
 Solubility cannot be decided as accurate. Because, it can be observed by visual
observation of soluble, insoluble or sparingly soluble.
 Apart from that, sometimes the solution is insoluble and sparingly soluble looks
same. So, it is difficult to decide the solution is soluble or sparingly soluble.
 Therefore, I think that melting point is most accurate than solubility and density
based on today’s experiment.
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