MLS 121L (Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Laboratory): Activity 02

COMPOUND IDENTIFICATION USING PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

I. Aims

 To appropriately determine some physical properties of a given compound

 To assemble correctly some physical properties determination setups
 To utilize physical properties data together with literature data in identifying compounds and/or
determining their purity

II. Activities

Physical characterization
1. Obtain your unknown compound from your instructor.
2. Take note of its color, texture, appearance, and odor (if any).

Solubility
1. Measure out 1 mL of distilled water into a test tube.
2. Add the unknown solid gram by gram to the test tube containing water with constant agitation to
effect complete dissolution of your compound until such time that no further dissolution is seen.
3. Note the mass of the unknown that completely dissolves in water and record this as its solubility
in water (g/mL).
4. Repeat using ethanol and cyclohexane.
5. Scale down to milligrams if initial addition of 1g of your unknown is insoluble in the solvent but
report solubility in g/mL still. Report as insoluble if the addition of a speck of the unknown in the
solvent is really insoluble.

Melting point range

1. Obtain a capillary tube and seal one end by directly heating over a flame.
2. Tap the open end vigorously onto the sample spread on a watch glass to force the sample onto
the tube. Invert the capillary tube and tap down to force the sample to the bottom. Put around
2mm of the sample into the tube via this technique.
3. Attach the capillary tube containing your sample to a thermometer using a rubber band. Align
the bottom part of the tube with the alcohol bulb of the thermometer.
4. Insert the other end of the thermometer through a cork that shall serve as clamping area for the
thermometer-capillary tube assembly to an iron stand.
5. Submerge the alcohol bulb end of the thermometer with clear view of the material in the capillary
tube onto a glycerol bath.
6. Heat the glycerol bath supported by a tripod then record the temperature range at which the
solid in the capillary tube starts to melt until it completely melts.
7. Record your observations. Confirm the measurements if necessary by doing another trial.

Using the data you gathered, do literature review and propose putative identities of your compound.