Pre-Lab

Title: Whats In the Bottle?

Date: 10/7/16
Purpose: Identify an unknown solid based on systematic testing of physical and chemical
properties from known solids
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. Intermolecular forces are between molecules and intramolecular forces are within
molecules.
2. A.
B. A metallic solid would be able to conduct electricity but an ionic solid would not be
able to conduct electricity.
C. A covalent solid would have a high melting point, but a molecular solid would have a
low melting point.
3. The higher the melting point the stronger the bond. The more soluble the element is the
stronger the bond is.
4. Hexane- nonpolar covalent-114c*-slightly soluble
Bromobenzene- ionic- 993c*- yes
Sodium Chloride-polar covalent- 186c*- yes
Iron- metallic- 1535c*- no

5.

Data:
Sample

Appearanc
e

Paraffin
Wax

A clear
crystal like
form

Result of
Crushing/
Malleability

Crushed into No or Very

a dust
little

No

Conductivit
y of
Aqueous
Solution
Low

Conductivit
y of Solid

Solubilit
y

Melting
Point
low

Copper

Blue,
powdery

Turned into
a white
powder

Not
conductive

Slightly

High

medium

Sucrose

clear/white,
small grains

It pops,
white
powder

Not
conductive

Yes

High

medium

White,
grainy

Turned into
a white
powder

No or Very
little

Yes

Very High

Very High

White and
powdery

No or very
little

yes

Very high

Very high

White
powder

Does Not
change

No or very
little

yes

medium/low

high

Gray and
like a rock

Doesn't
crush

No or very
little

no

low

Very high

Shiny little
pieces that
are metallic

Shatters into
little pieces

No or very
little

no

low

low

NaCl

Unknown
A
Unknown
B

Unknown
C
Unknown
D

White and
Crystaly

Post Lab:
1.
Sample
A
B

Type of Solid
Ionic
Polar

Explanation
Does conduct electricity, has a very high melting point, and
is soluble in water
No conduction of electricity, high melting point, and
partially soluble

C
D

Metallic
Nonpolar

Conducts electricity
Does not conduct electricity, and melts at low temperatures

2.
3.
4. With normal conductivity both had no conductivity whatsoever. However The conductivity in
the aqueous solution Sodium Chloride is very high conductive, while Sucrose is only high
Discussion of Theory: In this lab we were able to complete the purpose that was to find the
unknown substances. The experiment worked mostly the only problem we had was finding the
conductibility of the elements when they were not on the water because we got none on each
one. But the experiment did work because we were able to identify the unknown elements.
Experimental sources of error: The only mistake we had in this experiment was not getting the
conductivity of the metallic solid. If we were to do this again we could have asked tos ee if all of
the conductivities should have been low or none.