Ionic vs Covalent Substance Lab

November 18, 2014

Scenario:
You are going to get 4 different substances and you need to be able to uncover
which ones contain covalent bonds and which ones contain ionic bonds.

Problem Question:
Which of the substances contains covalent bonds and which ones contain ionic
bonds.

Hypothesis:
Write a PREDICTION that explains what substance will show which bond
type each contains. You will need to have a separate hypothesis for each
substance.
Substance 1 – Vegetable Oil
Substance 2 – Salt
Substance 3 – Sugar
Substance 4 – Baking Soda
Materials
Substance 1 – Vegetable Oil
Substance 2 – Salt
Substance 3 – Sugar
Substance 4 – Baking Soda
400 mL beaker
4 test tubes
Hot plate
Spoon
Stop Watch
100 mL graduated cylinder
Room Temperature tap water
Goggles
 Procedure
Melting Point
1. Begin by gathering 4 test tubes, a 400 mL beaker and a
hot plate.
2. Place the substances in each of the designated test tubes.
(ex. Substance 1 in test tube #1)
3. Turn the Hot Plate on to high.
4. Place all 4 test tubes into the beaker and place the beaker
on the hot plate.
5. Watch and record when each of the substances melts.
 Procedure
Dissolving in Water
1. Begin by gathering a spoon, a 100 mL graduated
cylinder and a 400 mL beaker.
2. In the beaker, have the teacher pour in substance #1.
3. Fill the graduated cylinder up to 100 mL with tap water
and then pour it into the beaker.
4. Begin stirring the solution in the beaker for 30 seconds
and then let it sit for 30 seconds. Record if it dissolves or
not.
5. Repeat steps 1 – 4 with the remaining substances.
 Ionic and Covalent Properties Table
Ionic Compounds Covalent Compounds
Property: Melting point High Melting Point Low Melting Point

Test: Apply heat Result: Won’t melt at low Result: Will melt at low
heat heat

Property: Dissolve in water Will dissolve in water Will not dissolve in water

Test: Put in water Result: Will “disappear” in Result: will NOT

water “disappear” in water

Property: Crystal formation Will form crystals Usually do not form crystals.
Test: ??
Property: Conduct electricity Will conduct electricity IF melted or Will never conduct electricity
Test: ?? dissolved in water
 Data Table
Substance Melting Point Dissolves in Water
(High or Low) (Yes or No)

Substance #1
Vegetable Oil

Substance #2
Salt

Substance #3
Sugar

Substance #4
Baking Soda
Get Materials
and Begin
Working
 Answers
Substance Melting Point Dissolves in Water
(High or Low) (Yes or No)

Substance #1
Low No
Vegetable oil

Substance #2
High Yes
Salt

Substance #3
Low No
Sugar

Substance #4
High Yes
Baking Soda
Claims Evidence and Reasoning
Write a paragraph explaining your results. Be sure to
include the following in your paragraph:
1. What your claim was for each substance.
1. Which type of bond held the atoms of each substance together.
2. Evidence to support or refute your claim.
1. Use your observations. (Both numbers and senses)
3. Reasoning
1. Explanation of what you saw happen. (Explain data and use
science to explain what you know about compounds, elements,
and bonding)
Answers
Covalent
Vegetable Oil
Sugar

Ionic
Salt
Baking Soda