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Palikarsky 1

Palikarsky, Martin
Thomas Houston
Chemistry 9/4
November 19, 2016
Compound X Lab Report
Question: What is Compound X and how does it react with the other elements/solutions?
It is predicted that Compound X is sodium bicarbonate. It is hypothesized that because
Compound X is powder, basic, solid, and not dangerous, is most likely to be baking soda.
Materials & Apparatus:
Materials Apparatus
Plastic gloves Beaker
Paper towels Dropper pipet
a solution of NaOH Test tubes
a solution of HCl Safety goggles
phenolphthalein Spatula
Compound X Test tube rack
pH tape Electronic balance
a sheet of paper Pen
a candle Lighter
Spot plate
Procedure:
Each scientist goes to the lab in order to do a specific type of an experiment. Firstly, is really
important to put on the safety goggles and plastic gloves, especially if you don’t know what is
going to happen in a reaction. Following the instructions, the first step is to get the exact
amount of the Compound X as written, using the electronic balance and the beaker and
spatula as a transfer. After that, go to the experiment place and prepare the apparatus.
Secondly, start mixing the given compound with the different materials. Take some of the
Compound X and put it in one of the test tubes, then mix it with water. Shake it to help the
reaction happen, add phenolphthalein, and observe the color. Repeat the first steps, but this
time, using the dropper piper, add a few drops of the solution of sodium hydroxide. Then,
check again the pH level thanks to the phenolphthalein. Finally, do this again, but with the
solution of hydrochloric acid, and check either with phenolphthalein, or pH tape, which
should be put in the water for several seconds until it changes its color. In order to determine a
gas, produced in the third experiment, a candle and a lighter would be needed. Do the same
reaction in a beaker in order of having bigger opening above. Place the candle over the
reaction and observe what will happen. After all, clean the test tubes carefully, return
everything to their initial places, take your notes, remove the cloak and the safety goggles and
leave the lab.
If there are any reactions which seem weak or there is nothing happening, make observations.
Observations:
First of all, the compound in its initial condition not reacted with anything. Its color is white,
and it is like a powder which remains on the finger when touched. Because it is a compound,
not an element, it consists of more than one chemical element or compound, so it will be
symbolized like XY. Obviously, its matter is solid which makes it soluble in water.
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XY (s) + H2O (l)  XOH (aq) + H2Y (aq)


When Compound X is reacted with water, the products are X hydroxide and Y-ic acid. Adding
phenolphthalein to that reaction, light pink is released, which means that the pH is greater
than 7, and XY has basic properties.
Secondly, there is no reaction, such as base-base, however, the Compound X is not a basic, it
is with basic properties. Consequently, there can be a real reaction.
XY (s) + NaOH (l)  NaY (aq) + H2O (l)
In a reaction where Compound X reacts with sodium hydroxide, the products are sodium Y-
ate and water. Again, mixing the reaction done with phenolphthalein gives the color for basic
pH, but this time is too purple, which proves again that XY is basic.
Finally, the remaining experiment is between the XY and the hydrochloric acid. Because the
pH level of the two reactants is different – Compound X is basic, and the acid is acidic, this
reaction will show at least element Y and will be the final proof whether XY is basic or not.
XY (s) + HCl (l)  XCl (s) + H2O (l) + Y (g)
If Compound X reacts with hydrochloric acid, it produces X chloride, water, and a gas.
Knowing what the gas is, the Y will be easily determined because it will be the same as in
Compound X. Doing the experiment with the candle and the bigger beaker, the flash gets bit
by bit put out, which definitely shows that the released gas is carbon dioxide or CO2.
Moreover, observing the reaction, there are small balloons on the top which totally proves that
the gas is CO2.
XCO3 (s) + HCl (l)  XCl (s) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
Consequently, X carbonate and hydrochloric acid produce X chloride, water, and carbon
dioxide. Adding phenolphthalein, the reaction gets light, light purple which shows that the pH
is slightly higher than 7, so it is 100% proved that the XCO3.
Discussion:
After doing all the three main experiments and analyzing them, the final answer should be
determined. Firstly, since the beginning of the lab, it was almost completely sure that
Compound X is basic which was later proved by using phenolphthalein to all the reactions
with water, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid. Everywhere the color was purply-pink
meaning that the pH level is greater than 7 and Compound X is with basic properties.
Considering the last experiment with the candle, there was given evidence for the presence of
the carbon dioxide gas in the reactants. Consequently, it is also part of the initial compound as
carbonate. Searching for the X, the second element helps the most because we have a reaction
between XCO3 and sodium hydroxide, or:
XCO3 (s) + NaOH (l)  Na2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l).
After that, the conclusion can be done. Because the elements participating in the reaction are
carbon, oxide, sodium, and hydrogen, the two remaining elements that should be used as
reactants are the sodium and the hydrogen. Consequently, the Compound X is either sodium
bicarbonate or carbonate. However, it should be well known that sodium carbonate is unable
to react with sodium hydroxide, meaning that the only possible answer is sodium bicarbonate
or baking soda. In addition, it is believed that baking soda is not dangerous to the health and
skin because did not injure anything, or cause stomachache when eaten, or touched.
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Conclusion:
The prediction and the hypothesis in the beginning of the lab are supported. Specifically, the
prediction is supported because it is declared that Compound X is sodium bicarbonate as said.
After that, the hypothesis is also verified because the characteristic that NaHCO3 is basic is
proved throughout the three reactions. There have been so many concerns about what exactly
the Compound X is. It is most likely to be sodium bicarbonate, but there are also other
possible compounds because the initial information given is not completely enough to reach a
perfect conclusion. If there were more hints about the characteristics of the compound, the lab
would have been done perfectly without any frustrations and misunderstandings. Moreover,
this lab can lead to further labs and experiments linked with Chemistry classes because these
types of assignments develop skills, and improve the understanding of many topics.
References:
"Sodium Bicarbonate." PubChem. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 19 Nov. 2016.
<https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sodium_bicarbonate#section=Top>.
"Sodium Bicarbonate Chemistry." IBT Bulletin: 1+. Web. 19 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.ibtbiomed.com/tech_corner/pdf/sodium_bicarb.pdf>.
"Acids, Bases, & the PH Scale." Science Buddies. Science Buddies, Inc. Web. 19 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-
projects/project_ideas/Chem_AcidsBasespHScale.shtml>.

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