Identifying Six Unknown Compounds and Their Bonds

By: Natalie Youssef Introduction: There are three general classes of bonding that hold atoms together to form compounds and large elemental solids: ionic, metallic, and covalent. In this lab we were identifying ionic and covalent bonds. Using the material provided to identify the unknown substances. Using the materials provided to identify the unknown substances students used the differences in properties between molecular compounds (covalent bonds) and network compounds (ionic bond) to identify known substances as ionicly bonded or covalently bonded. The goal of this lab was for students to gain the knowledge to be able to explain the differences in chemical and physical properties by using the differences in bonding structures. An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has a positive or negative charge. Positively charged ions are called cations, while negatively charged ions are called anions. Cations form when metals create ions and lose electrons to reach this stable state. Cations always take away negative charges when they create a bond. Ions form when atoms gain or lose electrons to achieve a full valence electron. Usually the charge of ions can be determined by the elements position on the periodic table. For example, all of the alkali metals lose a single electron to form a cation with a +1 charge. Likewise, alkaline earth metals lose two electrons to form a +2. Many of the transition metal ions have varying oxidation states. All atoms seek to reach a stable state. In order for this to happen atoms will either gain or lose electrons, also known as ionization energy. An ionic bond is a chemical bond that comes from the electrostatic forces that hold ions together in ionic compounds. Ionic bonds occur from a nonmetal and metal. Metals give electrons to non-metals and then the ions are electrostatically attracted to each other. Ionic bonds form in order to achieve the most energetically stable arrangement. Depending on the element, ions gain or lose electrons to create an ionic bond in order to fill their valence electron shell. This whole process is achieving a full valence energy level from driving force, completing the atoms octet (outer energy level). The properties of an ionic bond include solubility, conductivity, and a crystalline structure both before and after being crushed. Ionic bonds hold tightly together on their gained electrons, making it difficult to break an ionic bond. In water these bonds are broken up into individual molecules. The space in between these molecules allow for electricity to be conductive. Since there is a repetitive arrangement of ions because of the opposite charges and sizes, ionic bonds create crystalline structures. Ionic compounds, are brittle because when a crystalline structure is distributed it factures. Another property ionic bonds have is its extremely high melting points. The reasoning for the extremely high melting point is because of the strong attraction between ions. Ceramics is good a conductor, as well

as an ionic bond. Ceramics have a crystalline structure. These structures can be broken down creating smaller crystals. A covalent bond is a chemical bond that comes from the sharing of one or more electron pairs between two atoms. Covalent bonding only occurs between two nonmetals. They are formed when two nonmetals share (fight over) electrons in order to fill their valence electron shell. Electron sharing usually occurs so that atoms can contain the electron configuration of noble gases. Covalently bonded compounds can be solids, liquids, or gases. The properties covalent bonds have differentiate them from any other bond. Covalent bonds have low melting points and are non-conductive. These bonds also contain soft and malleable structures. Often time they are gases or liquids at room temperature. An example of this is a polymer because polymers are non-reactive, making them great insulators. Second, covalent bonds are non-conductive either in a solid state or dissolved in a solution. Covalent bonds are less soluble in water than ionic bonds. Lastly, covalently bonds are not necessarily crystalline. The diversity of physical properties among covalent compounds is because of the widely fluctuating intermolecular attractions. In order to identify an unknown as an ionic or covalent bond we classified them by their properties and characteristics. A reliable way to determine the bond of an atom would be to compare the electronegativity. If a bond has (0.0-0.4) electronegativity then it is a nonpolar covalent bond. If it is in the range of (0.4-2.0) electronegativity then it is a polar covalent bond. Lastly, if it has a range of (0.2) electronegativity or higher then it is an ionic bond. In addition, ionic compounds usually have a much higher melting point than covalent bonds. Results: We placed each of our six unknowns into 10mL of water to determine whether or not it was soluble and to determine whether or not it was conductive using the probe. In order to find if each unknown was conductive or not students used the conductivity probes. Using the conductive probe tool, students could determine whether or not the solution was conductive based off the color of the red and green LED lights that would light up after placed in a conductive solution. If the lights did not light up than it could be determined that the solution was not conductive. This tool is dipped into the aqueous solution of the compound. Moments later the lights will either change, light up, or not, giving students the information they need in order to get accurate results of each unknown and whether it was conductive or not. In order to determine whether an unknown was soluble or not we placed each unknown into the 10 mL of water and stirred them to see if they would dissolve or not.

Table 1: Conductivity probe key Scale 0 1 2 3 4 Red LED Off Dim Medium Bright Very Bright Green LED Off Off Off Dim Medium Conductivity None Low Medium High Very High

Table 2: Specific conductivity results for the 6 unknown solutions tested Unknown Solution Red LED Green LED Conductivity A Bright Dim High Conductivity B Bright Dim -High Conductivity C Dim None -Low Conductivity D Dim None -Low Conductivity E Bright Dim -High Conductivity F Bright Dim -High conductivity Students also placed the unknown substance in the mortar and used the pestle to crush as much as the substance as possible. Then using the microscope, students could compare and observe the crystalline shapes in order to record data. Once these substances were crushed, they were placed in 10 mL of water and observed for solubility. Our data is shown below in Table 2. Table 3: Descriptions of Unknowns and their physical properties and solubility A B Physical Characteristics Solubility -Consistent Crystalline -Dissolves in water Structure before and after crushed -Consistent Crystalline -Doesnt dissolve in water structure before and after crushed -Crystalline structure before and after crushed -Crystalline structure before and after crushed - Crystalline structure before and after crushed - Crystalline structure before and after crushed -Dissolves in water - Dissolves in water -Doesnt dissolve in water -Dissolves in water

C D E F

Discussion: The purpose of this lab was to identify the types of bonds of six different unknown compounds. To achieve our final results we used three different methods referred to as conductivity testing, crystalline identification, and solubility. These methods allowed us to determine whether a substance contained as an ionic bond or a covalent bond. Of the six substances tested, three of them measured as ionic compounds, while the other three substances tested to be covalently bonded compounds. To determine the bond type we used the conductivity probe in each of the substances. If a compound had a high conductivity, it was an ionic compound, while with a low conductivity the substance was covalently bonded. The majority of our tests were run using the conductivity probe because only one of the unknown substances (reference table 1) were specific to the crystalline method of bond identification. Based on the properties of both covalent and ionic bonds, I was able to clearly identify my unknowns with confidence that I was correct. Since ionic and covalent bonds differentiate from one another I was able to use my observations and data in Table 2 and Table 3 determine whether or not they fit the correct properties of each bond. Table 4: Bonding Types of Each Unknown Substance Unknown Substance A B C D E F Ionic Bond Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Covalent Bond No No Yes No Yes No

I found that Substance A was an ionic bond. Using the conductivity probe, we dipped it into the aqueous solution of the compound. We found that unknown A had a high conductivity based on our results in Table 2. Since there was a bright red light, I knew that this substance was highly conductive (see Table 1). Next I observed the substance under a low magnification microscope in order to identify and recognize the shape and structure of the substance as an ionic bond. Once I observed and recorded my result, I crushed the substance with the pestle as much as possible. Then I observed to see if the structure remained the same after being crushed. I used this method on every substance. Unknown A had a crystalline structure both before and after being crushed by the pestle. Using the same procedures I used to identify Substance A, I identified Substance B as an ionic bond as well. One observation from substance B was that it did not dissolve in water, but we found that it was highly conductive using the conductivity probe. Some of the unknown may have dissolved, but we may have added more of the

substance than the liquid could hold. Substance B also had a crystalline structure both before and after being crushed by the Mortar and Pestle. Since covalent bonds have a low conductivity, and maintained a crystalline structure we determined that this unknown was an ionic bond. Our results support this conclusion in Table 2 and 3. Substance C was identified as a covalent bond for many reasons. Using the same procedures, I found that this substance had a low conductivity. Another property that was noted was that this substance dissolved mostly in water. Not only that, but under a low magnification microscope the shape and structure of this unknown remained the same after and before being crushed. They both were identified as similar crystalline structures. Based off these results, shown in Table 2 and 3, I identified this substance as a covalent bond. We are confident that this substance D was Sulfur. Since Sulfurs color is yellow and has a distinct smell, I could determine this substance was Sulfur. After testing our substance by looking at the structure before and after crushing, determining if it dissolves in water or not, and finding its conductivity we came to the conclusion that this substance is Sulfur, an ionic bond. We could identify this substance as ionic because it had a low conductivity, dissolved in water, and contained a crystalline structure both before and after being crushed. My partner and I came to the conclusion that this unknown was Sulfur based off of its smell and appearance Since we are well aware Sulfurs characteristics we came to the conclusion that this unknown was Sulfur. While identifying Substance E we found some interesting characteristics that distinguished this bond over any other. We tested this substance by looking at the structure before and after crushing, determined if it dissolved in water or not, and found its conductivity. Based on our results in Table 2 and 3 we found that it remained a crystalline structure both before and after being crushed, was highly conductive, and didnt dissolve in water. The most interesting thing about this element was that it fizzed and then formed a solid when placed in water releasing heat and creating an electric current. Later I found that this unknown was Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate. Since this reaction involved heat, it means it is exothermic. Meaning it releases energy in the form of heat. Magnesium Sulfate is also known as Epsom salt. With this information we indicated that this substance is another ionic bond rather than a covalent. Lastly we identified Substance F. Using the same procedures for the last unknown substances we found that it contains a high conductivity and contains the same crystalline structure both before and after being crushed. Crystalline solids come from orderly arrangements of their component ions. Substance F also dissolved in water. Based off Table 2 and 3, all of these properties indicate that this compound an ionic bond. One uncertainty we came across while determining whether or not our Unknowns were ionic or covalent bonds was determining the structure and whether or not it

remain a crystalline shape both before and after being crushed. Although we had a microscope, it was hard to determine whether or not the structure looked similar. This could create an error in our results. Another uncertainty we had while were identifying Unknown C as an ionic or covalent bond. This substance did not completely dissolve in the water for the amount of time we had on to identify that unknown. This was an uncertainty, however, based on the other properties we were still able to determine whether this unknown was ionic or covalent. One way I could have improved my experiment would be to take into consideration finding the melting point of each unknown, I would have more results that could have helped in addition to my data in order to identify whether or not each unknown was an ionic or covalent bond. The melting points create another property that clearly distinguishes an ionic bond from a covalent. If I were to do this project again, I would consider including the melting point in my procedure. Honors Extension: They conductivity probe is used to determine electrical conductivity in aqueous solutions. You may use a conductive probe in conditions such as food and beverages, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and the general chemical industry. The Conductivity Probe involves two main parts: the anode (positive for a power consuming device) and the cathode (negative). The cathode is made from an inert material such as graphite and part of a single contraption. This is placed into the solution with the other end connected to a measurement device. This puts force on the charged ions, pushing them either to the anode or cathode depending on the charge when the probe is activated as a voltage is applied to the system. The measuring device calculates the conductivity of the solution by measuring the amount of current. When a potential difference is applied between the two parts of the probe. This is what differentiates solutions conductivity from the different levels. These levels are converted to conductivity by multiplying the distance between the anode and cathode divided by their total surface area submerged in solution.