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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
2.
Water
3.
4.
Graphite
Digital Scale
2000ml (= 100ml x 4
variables x 5 trials)
2
1
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Beaker
Power Supply
Stopwatch
Ampere meter
Alligator Clip
Stirring Rod
1
1
1
1
3
1
Note/Size
Compound A
Compound B
Compound C
Compound D
Measures mass in
grams
150ml
Gives 9V option
-
Procedure:
1. Prepare all Apparatus
2. Assemble the circuit:
1. Plug in the power supply to the power source
2. Attach one end of both alligator clips to the two slots located in the
DC section of the power supply
3. Attach the other end of one alligator clip to the graphite
4. Attach the other end of the second alligator clip to the black slot of
the ampere meter
5. Attach an extra alligator clip to the red slot of the ampere meter
and attach the other side on another graphite
3. Fill the beaker in with 100ml water
4. Weigh 5 grams of compound A on the digital scale
5. Put in 5 grams of compound A into the beaker. Stir the mixture with a
stirring rod until compound A is completely dissolved in water.
6. Put in both pieces of graphite into the water; note that one should not
touch the other.
7. Set the power supply to 9V
8. Turn on the power supply
9. As you turn on the power supply, start the stopwatch.
10. Wait for five seconds and record the number displayed on the ampere
meter.
11. Turn off the power supply and throw away the used sample solution
12. Repeat steps 3-11 for four more trials
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Graph 1. Average current (A) produced by solutions with different compounds as solute
2.5
2.11
2
1.5
Average current (A) produced
1
0.5
0.46
0.03
0
A
B0
Type of Compound
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Discussion:
It can be seen from the graph that the strongest current that is allowed
to flow is 2.106 Amperes. This strength of current is the rate of charge when
graphite pieces are submerged in compound C solution. The smallest current
exerted is 0.000 Amperes. No current flows when graphite pieces are
submerged in compound K, in other words compound K is not an electrical
conductor, whereas compound A, B and C are conducts electricity when they
are diluted in aqueous solutions.
Compound A showed a moderate amount of electrical conductivity, letting flow
a current of 0.464 Amperes. Compound B allows very little electrical current to
flow thus it is not a good electrical conductor. Compound K proves to be a
good conductor for electricity.
The experiment data is accurate and reliable. The experiment is
conducted five times for each variable using separate samples to ensure that
the collected data has no errors. The highest percentage of error is shown in
compound B where the percentage is 21.066%. Even then, there is only 0.01Ampere difference between the trials, proving that trials were handled with
great degree of accuracy. Despite the fact that, collected data are closely
spaced, the percentage is still quite high thus proving that there were some
humane weaknesses made in this experiment.
Although the time taken before measurement has been decided before
hand, there is always a possibility of slipping up a few microseconds later or
earlier before stopping the stopwatch, or when starting the stopwatch. This
has to do with the human reaction time, and thus cannot be avoided. The
amount of time before measurement plays an important part in the current
exerted in the circuit, thus why it is kept constant (As shown by the formula
charge = current x time, time and current are inversely proportional. Thus
current decreases as time goes. This shows how time and current influences
one another thus influencing the data collected.). This human mistake may be
fatal for the collected data as some trial results may be the result of additional
microseconds to the designated measurement time.
To overcome this problem, it is required that the experiment be
conducted with the help of technological aids. In this case, video cameras.
Video cameras displays both time and visuals of what is happening in the
present. Instead of recording based on the human reaction time, a video
camera can be used as a more reliable source of time. Video cameras can be
fast forwarded to adjust to the measurement time, thus giving out more
accurate data.
Experiment 2: Melting Point
Aim:
To investigate type of chemical bonds of four different unknown compounds
through its melting point (how long it takes to melt the compound)
Hypothesis: There are three types of chemical bonds; ionic, metallic and
covalent bonds. The melting or boiling point of these three bonds depends on
the strength of intermolecular forces (or forces of attraction between
elements). Ionic compounds have higher melting points because they have
strong van der waal attraction and thus requires strong forces (heat) before
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elements are freed from the lattice. On the other hand, molecular substances
(covalent compounds) have relatively weak force of attraction. Thus the bonds
do not have to be broken in order to melt. Metallic bonds have bonds even
stronger than that of ionic bonds, and thus a lot of energy is needed to break
through those bonds.
In relation to the experiment, the unknown compounds have to be of either
one of these three chemical bonds. If the compound is shown to have higher
melting points (takes more time to melt completely) then it is of ionic or
metallic bonding. On the other hand, if the unknown compound have low
melting points then it is a compound with covalent bonds.
Bibliography: BBC, 2014. Metal structure and Properties (unknown date of
update) Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/periodic
_table/metalsrev1.shtml (16th March 2015)
Variables:
Independent variables:
Chemical bonds of four different unknown compounds (Compound A, B, C, K)
Dependent variables:
The melting point of these unknown compounds (measured by time taken to
melt them (seconds))
Control Variables:
1. Same amount of compound used throughout the experiment (5 gr)
2. The same stopwatch is used throughout
3. The same size of aluminum foil used for each trial (12x12 cm)
4. Same tripod used throughout the experiment (12 cm in diameter)
5. Same Bunsen burner used throughout the experiment
6. Same distance between one compound to the other during an
experiment trial (4 cm)
7. Same vertical distance between Bunsen burner and aluminum foil (1
inch)
8. Same room temperature of 28 o C
9. Same digital scale used throughout experiment
Table 1: Apparatus and Equipment
No Equipment
Quantity
.
1.
Unknown Compound
5 gram
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Tripod
Bunsen burner
Lighter
Aluminum foil
Digital scale
1
1
1
10 pieces
1
7.
8.
Ruler
Stopwatch
1
1
Note/Size
Compound A
Compound B
Compound C
Compound D
Diameter: 12 cm
12x12 cm
Measures mass in
grams
30cm
-
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9.
Scissor
Procedure:
1. Prepare the apparatus
2. Place the Bunsen burner below the tripod
3. Use ruler to measure the vertical distance between the Bunsen burner
and the tripod. Adjust the tripod to make sure the vertical distance is 1inch
4. Measure 5 grams of compound A and B separately on the digital scale
5. Take a piece of 12x12cm sized aluminum foil and fold it to form four
equal parts. This will allow you to find its center.
6. Place compound A, 2cm from the center.
7. Place compound B, 2cm from the center in the direction opposite
compound A
8. Place the aluminum foil on the tripod
9. Light the Bunsen burner using a lighter
10. As the Bunsen burner is ignited, start the stopwatch
11. Stop the stopwatch when the compound is completely melted
12. Record the time displayed on the stopwatch
13. Enclose the wick (of Bunsen burner) to kill the flame
14. Repeat steps 4-13 for four more trials
15. Repeat steps 4-14 for compound C and K
Diagram of Set-Up Equipment:
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B
C
K
10.0
5.7
8.0
9.3
4.8
9.5
8.8
5.2
8.2
9.1
5.1
7.8
9.5
5.5
9.0
Example calculation
(Average current calculation for compound B):
10.0+ 9.3+8.8+9.1+ 9.5
A=
5
46.7
A=
5
A= 9.34
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Thus the average time taken for compound B to melt is 9.34 seconds
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Graph 1. Average time taken for different compound types to melt (secs)
10
9.34
8.5
8
6
5.26
A0 B C K
Compound type
Discussion:
It can be seen from the graph that it takes the longest to melt
compound B, in other words compound B has the highest melting point. It
took 9.34 seconds for compound B to be fully melted on the aluminum foil.
Compound C took the shortest time to melt, taking only 5.26 seconds in
average before melting completely. Compound K proved to have a melting
point somewhere in between that of compounds B and C, whilst compound A
did not melt. This suggests that compound A has an extremely high melting
point as it takes very long amounts of time to melt compound A completely.
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Ionic compounds
Molecular
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Electrical
conductivity
Melting point
Solubility
compounds
High
substances
High
Low
Molecular
substances are
soluble however
do not form a
solution.
Conclusion:
Now is the time to draw conclusions on whether or not these unknown
compounds are of, metallic, ionic or covalent bonds. However, as it has been
revealed that non of these are of metallic bonding, it leaves two possible
choices choices for the unknown compounds chemical bond type: ionic and
covalent.
Compound A: compound A allowed electrical current of 0.464
Amperes to flow through when it is diluted in aqueous solutions.
Although the current exerted is relatively weak, compound A is still a
conductor. Correspondingly, compound A prove to be very difficult to
melt, in fact, during this experiment we failed to melt compound A.
owing to the fact that it has an extremely high melting point, and it
conducts electricity, compound A has ionic bonds.
Compound B: compound B allowed electrical current of 0.026
Amperes, which is very low for a current. This showcases how
compound B is a very bad conductor if not an insulator; moreover it
took compound B an average of 9.34 seconds to begin to melt. This is
a relatively short time. Thus proving that compound B has covalent
bonds.
Compound C: Compound C allowed an electrical current of 2.106
Amperes, which is very high compared to the electrical current exerted
when the electrical circuit goes through solutions consisting of other
unknown compounds. However, compound C prove to have the lowest
melting point, which in this case is 5.26 seconds. However since, it
shows a relatively high electrical current, it is safe to assume that
compound C has ionic bonds.
Compound K: Compound K proves to not be a conductor, conducting
0 current for all trials. It also has a low melting point of 8.5 seconds.
Thus shows how compound K has covalent bonds.
This experiment proved my hypothesis true, I found out that metallic
compounds have the strongest bonds and thus conducts electricity in solid
form as well as liquid form. Ionic compounds have a relatively strong bond,
and thus they also have high melting points however does not exceed that of
metallic compounds. Lastly, covalent compounds have the weakest bonds
and thus have lower melting points and cannot conduct electricity due to
insufficient amount of contact between particles. My data corresponds to my
hypothesis as well, in which compounds with ionic bonds like C and A can
conduct electricity and have higher melting points. On the other hand,
compounds with covalent bonds like B and K have lower melting points and
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cannot conduct electricity (or are bad conductors of electricity). The fact that
the hypothesis corresponds with the research done also proves that it is true.
In conclusion, each chemical bond has its own specific set of properties
that corresponds with its structure. Metallic bonds have an electron sea and
thus there are many mobile electrons that help it conduct electricity. Metallic
bonds also have very strong bonds that are harder to break and thus has high
melting points. Ionic compounds whose bonds depend on electrostatic forces
between atoms, and thus its bonds are relatively strong. This makes ionic
compounds electrical conductors (only when dissolved in water) as it does not
have enough free electrons in solid form. Its relatively strong bonds also make
it have high melting points. Lastly, covalent bonds whose structure depends
on a shared electron between two atom nuclei. They have relatively weak
bonds due to that, and thus, covalent bonds cannot conduct electricity and
have lower melting points. In this experiment there were no compounds with
chemical bonds. Compound A and C showed to have ionic bonds whilst
compound B and K have covalent bonds.
Bibliography:
1. UC Davis. Unknown year. Metallic bonding (unknown date of update).
Available at:
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Theoretical_Chemistry/Chemical_Bonding/
General_Principles/Metallic_Bonding (16th March 2015)
2. UC Davis. Unknown year. Covalent Bonds vs Ionic Bonds (unknown
date of update). Available at:
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Theoretical_Chemistry/Chemical_Bonding/
Covalent_Bonds_vs_Ionic_Bonds (16th March 2015)
3. BBC. 2014. Metal Structure and Properties (unknown date of update).
Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/p
eriodic_table/metalsrev2.shtml (16th March 2015).
4. Senese. Fred, 2010. What Properties distinguish Ionic compounds
from Covalent compounds? (15th February 2010). Available at:
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/compounds/faq/propertie
s-ionic-vs-covalent.shtml (16th March 2015)
5. IB Chemistry. 2011. Bonding (SL) (unknown date of update). Available
at: http://ibchem.com/IB/ibnotes/bon-sl.htm (17th March 2015)