Name_______________________________Date__________Per______

The Pyrite Lab: Elements, Mixtures & Compounds

Background n!ormation: When two elements are mixed together but not chemically combined they
form a class of matter that is called a mixture. The substances in a mixture may change their physical
appearance, but they are still the same substances. They can also be separated out of the substance by using
physical and not chemical means.
If two or more elements are chemically combined they form a class of matter that is called a
compound. The properties of a compound are usually different form the properties of the elements that
make up the compound. And unlike a mixture, the elements that make up a compound can only be
separated out by another chemical reaction.
"b#ecti$e: (1) Observe the properties of the elements iron and sul!ur;
(2) Observe the properties of a mixture o! iron and sul!ur% 3) Observe the
properties of a compound (ron &isul!ide 'e(
)
) made by chemically combining
iron and slfr and compare them to the properties of the elements iron and
slfr alone!
Materials
"bser$ations o! the Physical Properties o! the element (ul!ur *(+:
,- Observe the piece of slfr at yor station!
)- "ill ot the physical properties belo# for color, magnetism and odor!
.- Describe additional physical properties o! sul!ur and illustrate! $se
the microscope to get a closer loo%!
Color///////// Magnetic0 //////
"dor0 ///////
&escription *under microscope+
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"bser$ations o! the Physical Properties o! the element ron *'e+:
1- Observe the physical properties of color& odor and magnetism of the
iron filings in the petri dish!
2- 'o test for magnetism chec% that cover is on the petri dish and place
magnet on cover!
3- (dd any additional physical properties to flly describe the iron filings!
Color /////// Magnetic0 ///////
"dor0 ///////
&escription:///////////////////////////////
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Illustration (microscope)
Illustration (microscope)
"bser$ations o! the (ul!ur and ron *Mixture+
4- Place a paper s)are on a triple beam balance! "ind mass!
5- *et scale to 1g 6 mass o! paper!
7- $se a spatla and place po#dered slfr on the paper ntil yo have
measred 1 g o! sul!ur + mass of the paper!
,8- Por the slfr into the mortar!
,,- $se the same procedre to measre 2 g o! ron !ilings!
,)- *poon ot the iron filings into the mortar #ith the slfr!
,.- 9rind the sul!ur and iron together!
,1- ,a%e sre the magnet is in a plastic baggie and try to separate ot the
iron from the slfr mi-tre! .emove the magnet from the baggie to pt
iron bac% in the mortar! 'ill out obser$ations !or the sul!ur and iron
mixture!
&id the properties o! ron or (ul!ur change
a!ter they :ere mixed together0 //////
Can ron and (ul!ur be separated by
physical means0 ///////
;o:0 //////////////////////////////
Procedure: Make a compound :ith (ul!ur and ron
(ul!ur *(+ 6 ron *'e+ 6 heat energy < Pyrite *ron &isul!ide 'e(
)
+
,2- =egrind the sul!ur and iron together>
,3- *poon ot the iron and slfr mi-tre onto the paper s)are! Care!ully
pour the mixture into a test tube-
,4- Place test tbe clamp on the test tbe!
18. DRESS FOR BUNSEN BURNER USE AND TAKE TEST TUBE TO
OUTSIDE PATIO. WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO HEAT.
,7- Complete sa!ety checks prior to lighting the bunsen burner!
)8- /ight the 0nsen brner!
),- Check that there is a beaker o! ice :ater near the Bunsen burner-
))- 1old test tbe pointed a#ay from yo! 'he bottom of the tbe shold
be right abo$e the top o! the blue triangle!
).- ?@T ABTL T;E EBT=E MCTA=E ( 9L"?B9 B=9;T =E& *@
'=EB@LL+- 'his #ill ta%e a fe# mintes-
)1- 2ently s)ee3e the holder #hich drops test tbe in the ice #ater! 'he
test tbe shold crac%!
)2- $se tongs to remove large pieces of test tbe and place on the foil pie
pan! $se pie pan to dmp pieces of glass in proper disposal bo-!
)3- 'a%e ot yor piece of pyrite #ith tongs and dry off #ith paper to#el!
)4- 9o back to the classroom and dry your pyrite under the scope
light-
Illustration using magnet to remove
iron from mixture
"bser$ations o! the compound pyrite *'e(
)
+ D use the microscope
)5- Place the pyrite on a petri dish and place nder the microscope!
)7- 'est magnetism on yor pyrite and the natral pyrite!
Colors that you obser$e0 ____________________
s Eour Pyrite magnetic0 ////// s the natural pyrite magnetic0 ///////
Explain any di!!erences////////////////////////////////////////
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;a$e the physical properties o! iron and sul!ur changed0 ///////
Can they be separated by physical means0////// chemical means0 /////
s this substance still iron and sul!ur0 //////// ?hat is it0 /////////
?hat is the chemical !ormula o! this substance0 ////////////////
& &escription:
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Pyrite Lab Fuestions
,- Name the t#o elements and their chemical symbols that #ere sed in this
lab! Define element
)- Did the properties of the elements change #hen they #ere mi-ed together
in the mortar and pestle4 5old they be separated by physical means4
Explain :hy by discussing ho: mixtures are !ormed-
.- ?hat compound :as !ormed #hen yo heated the elements in a test
tbe4 6rite the chemical !ormula! Explain the only :ay the elements
could be separated-
Illustration (under microscope)
1- Did the properties of the elements change after yo heated them
together4 7-plain ho: they changed! 7-plain :hy they changed!
2- /oo% at the chemical e)ation at the top of the procedre! 6rite a
balanced chemical e)ation! /abel the GreactantsH and GproductsH side
of the e)ation!
8! 0esides the formation of pyrite #ere there any other ne# sbstances that
formed dring the heating of iron and slfr in the test tbe4 6hat
evidence do yo have4
9! 7-plain ho# this lab illstrates the difference bet#een elements&
componds& and mi-tres! (This should be a 5- se!"e!#es i! le!$"h)