Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

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Electrical conductivity of ionic & covalent molecular substances

Background When elements join together to form compounds, ionic or covalent bonds can hold the atoms together. In ionic bonds the atoms achieve a noble gas electron configuration by transfer of electrons from one atom to another. The positive and negative ions are held together by electrostatic forces to form an ionic lattice. When compounds are molten or dissolved in water the ions can move through the liquid and are therefore able to conduct an electric current. In covalent bonds the atoms achieve a noble gas electron configuration by sharing electrons between atoms. When molten, covalent substances do not conduct an electric current, as there are no charge carriers to move through the liquid. When dissolved in water, some covalent substances react to produce ions and hence a conducting solution results. In this experiment the electrical conductivities of some substances in the molten state, liquid state and in aqueous solution will be investigated. From this you should be able to draw some conclusions about the nature of the bonding in these substances. Equipment and chemicals D.C. power supply (0-12V) ammeter or globe ( 6V, 500 mA) 4 x electrical leads 2 with alligator clips emery paper tongs wire electrode system (see diagram next page) plate electrode system (see diagram next page) kerosene (50 mL) ethanol (50 mL) deionised water (50 mL) sucrose solution C12H22O11 0.1 mol L-1 (50 mL) sodium chloride solution NaCl 0.1 mol L-1 (50 mL) sodium hydroxide NaOH 0.1 mol L-1 (50 mL) Bunsen burner clay pipe triangle tripod crucible & lid (at lest 2 required) paper towel to dry electrodes 100 mL beaker

sodium hydroxide NaOH (5g) silver nitrate Ag NO3 (5g) candle wax (5g) naphthalene C10H8 (5g) sulfur S8 (5g)

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

International safety card information

Use the website to find safety information for all the hazardous chemicals used in this experiment http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/

Electrode construction details

wire electrode system

plate electrode system

Safety Information (Steps 1 - 6)

Sodium hydroxide - NaOH is very corrosive and must NOT be allowed to come into contact with your skin or eyes. Handle the NaOH pellets with a spatula Handle the silver nitrate - AgNO3 carefully as it produces dark stains on skin. Be extremely careful when handling the molten substances.

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Part A Electrical conductivity of some molten substances 1. Connect a 6 V DC power supply, ammeter and or globe and wire electrode system in series as shown in the diagram below.

2.

Place some sodium hydroxide pellets in a crucible to a depth of about 0.5 cm. Place the crucible on a clay pipe triangle supported by a tripod.

3.

Gently heat the crucible until the sodium hydroxide melts. Do NOT heat the crucible excessively. Apply enough heat to keep the sodium hydroxide just molten. Place the electrode system into the molten sodium hydroxide (the melt) and note the conductivity in terms of the brightness of the globe or the ammeter reading. It is necessary to continue gentle heating, as there will be some solidification around the cool electrodes. Remove the electrodes and clean them thoroughly with some emery paper. Repeat the procedure using silver nitrate instead of sodium hydroxide in a clean crucible.

4.

5. 6.

Safety Information (Step 7)

Care must be taken when heating the candle wax, sulfur, and naphthalene. If they catch fire, use tongs to place a lid on the crucible. This will extinguish the fire - by starving it of oxygen After the crucibles have cooled, wash out those containing the NaOH and AgNO3 and scrape out the others. 7. Repeat the procedure using, in turn, candle wax, sulfur and naphthalene. Record your results in the Data Sheet supplied.

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Part B Electrical conductivity of some liquids and aqueous solutions 1. 2. Connect a 6 V DC power supply, ammeter and/or globe, and plate electrode system in series as shown on the previous page. Place about 50 mL of kerosene into a 100 mL beaker. Place the plate electrode system into the liquid and note the conductivity in terms of the brightness of the globe or the ammeter reading. Record your results in the Data Sheet. Remove the electrodes and dry them with a paper towel. Repeat the procedure using, in turn, ethanol, distilled water, 0.1 mol L-1 sucrose, 0.1 mol L-1 NaCl, 0.1 mol L-1 NaOH and 0.1 mol L-1 HCl. Record your results in the Data Sheet.

3. 4.

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Data Sheet

Part A Molten compounds tested NaOH AgNO3 candle wax sulfur naphthalene Ammeter reading or globe brightness Type of bonding

Part B Liquid samples tested kerosene ethanol distilled water naphthalene Ammeter reading or globe brightness Type of bonding

Aqueous compounds tested 0.1 M sucrose C12H22O11 0.1 M NaCl 0.1 M NaOH 0.1 M HCl

Ammeter reading or globe brightness

Type of bonding

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Processing of results and questions Question 1 a) Which of the pure substances (not the solutions) tested in parts A and B conducted an electric current?

b)

What can you say about the nature of the bonding present in these substances?

c)

List the species which were the charge carriers in each case.

Question 2 a) List the pure substances tested in the experiment that did not conduct an electric current.

b)

What can you say about the type of bonding present in these substances?

c)

What species are present in each case?

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Question 3 a) Which of the solutions (sucrose, NaCl, NaOH, and HCl) conducted an electric current?

b)

List the species present in each case and state why the solutions are conducting or not.

Question 4 In the solid state, both NaCl and NaOH are ionic lattices. What happens to these substances when they dissolve in water?

Question 5 Pure HCl is a covalent molecule. What happens to each HCl molecule when it is dissolved in water?

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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Leeming SHS Yr 11 Chemistry

STAWA Exp 9

Question 6 Use the website links provided under the safety notes on page 2 to find safety information for the following: a) Describe in your own words, the dangers associated with using molten sodium hydroxide - NaOH

b)

What is the main danger associated in using paraffin wax (candle wax) in the way you did in part B?

c)

Is AgNO3 dangerous to handle? Explain?

STAWA9.DOC

Adapted from the STAWA Chemistry Lab Manual by Rob Namestnik

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