TITLE OF EXPERIMENT
Sodium and Potassium
B. DATE OF EXPERIMENT
Wednesday, 9th October 2019 / 09:30 – 12:00 WIB
C. PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENT
1. Knowing the characteristic of Na, K and its compound
2. Indentifying Na and K compounds
D. BASIC THEORIES
1. Sodium (Na)
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number
11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali
metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table, because it has a single electron
in its outer shell, which it readily donates, creating a positively charged ion
the Na+ cation (Greenwood & Earnshaw, 1997). Sodium at standard
temperature and pressure is a soft silvery metal that combines with oxygen
in the air and forms grayish white sodium oxide unless immersed in oil or
inert gas, which are the conditions it is usually stored in. The melting (98°C)
and boiling (883°C) points of sodium are lower than those of lithium but
higher than those of the heavier alkali metals potassium, rubidium, and
caesium, following periodic trends down the group (Wiberg, Wiberg, &
Holleman, 2001). In a flame test, sodium and its compounds glow yellow
because the excited 3s electrons of sodium emit a photon when they fall
from 3p to 3s; the wavelength of this photon corresponds to the D line at
about 589.3 nm (Schumann, 2008).
Sodium atoms have 11 electrons, one more than the extremely stable
configuration of the noble gas neon. Because of this and its low first
ionization energy of 495.8 kJ/mol, the sodium atom is much more likely to
lose the last electron and acquire a positive charge than to gain one and
acquire a negative charge. This process requires so little energy that sodium
is readily oxidized by giving up its 11th electron. In contrast, the second
ionization energy is very high (4562 kJ/mol), because the 10th electron is
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closer to the nucleus than the 11th electron. As a result, sodium usually
forms ionic compounds involving the Na+ cation (Ryan, Norris, &
University of Cambridge. Local Examinations Syndicate. International
Examinations., n.d.).
Aqueous Solution
Sodium tends to form water-soluble compounds, such as halides,
sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates and carbonates. The main aqueous species
are the aquo complexes [Na(H2O)n]+, where n = 4–8; with n = 6 indicated
from X-ray diffraction data and computer simulations (Lincoln, Richens, &
Sykes, 2004). Direct precipitation of sodium salts from aqueous solutions is
rare because sodium salts typically have a high affinity for water; an
exception is sodium bismuthate (NaBiO3). Because of this, sodium salts are
usually isolated as solids by evaporation or by precipitation with an organic
solvent, such as ethanol; for example, only 0.35 g/L of sodium chloride will
dissolve in ethanol (Burgess, 1978). Sodium content in bulk may be
determined by treating with a large excess of uranyl zinc acetate; the
hexahydrate (UO2)3ZnNa(CH3CO2)9·6H2O precipitates and can be
weighed. Caesium and rubidium do not interfere with this reaction, but
potassium and lithium do (Barber & Kolthoff, 1929).
Sodium Compounds
a. Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Pure sodium hydroxide is a colorless crystalline solid that melts
at 318°C (604°F) without decomposition, and with a boiling point of
1,388°C (2,530°F). It is highly soluble in water, with a lower solubility
in polar solvents such as ethanol and methanol. aOH is insoluble in ether
and other non-polar solvents (Benvenuto, n.d.).
Sodium hydroxide reacts with protic acids to produce water and
the corresponding salts. For example, when sodium hydroxide reacts
with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride is formed:
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
In general, such neutralization reactions are represented by one
simple net ionic equation:
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OH−(aq) + H+(aq) → H2O(l)
(Greenwood & Earnshaw, 1997).
b. Sodium Peroxide (Na2O2)
Sodium peroxide crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry. Upon
heating, the hexagonal form undergoes a transition into a phase of
unknown symmetry at 512°C. With further heating above the 657°C
boiling point, the compound decomposes to Na2O, releasing O2.
2Na2O2 → 2Na2O + O2
(Sax & Feiner, 1984)
c. Glauber’s Salt (Na2SO4.10H2O)
The general formula of a hydrated salt is MxNy.nH2O (Onder &
N., 2015). Sodium sulfate (also known as sodium sulphate or sulfate of
soda) is the inorganic compound with formula Na2SO4 as well as several
related hydrates. ΔHdehyd of Glauber’s Salt is 241 kJ/kg.
2. Potassium (K)
Potassium is a chemical element with the symbol K and atomic
number 19. Potassium is the second least dense metal after lithium. It is a
soft solid with a low melting point, and can be easily cut with a knife.
Freshly cut potassium is silvery in appearance, but it begins to tarnish
toward gray immediately on exposure to air. In a flame test, potassium and
its compounds emit a lilac color with a peak emission wavelength of 766.5
nanometers (Greenwood & Earnshaw, 1997).
Neutral potassium atoms have 19 electrons, one more than the
extremely stable configuration of the noble gas argon. Because of this and
its low first ionization energy of 418.8 kJ/mol, the potassium atom is much
more likely to lose the last electron and acquire a positive charge than to
gain one and acquire a negative charge (though negatively charged alkalide
K− ions are not impossible) (Dye, 1979).
Potassium is an extremely active metal that reacts violently with
oxygen in water and air. With oxygen it forms potassium peroxide, and with
water potassium forms potassium hydroxide. The reaction of potassium
with water is dangerous because of its violent exothermic character and the
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production of hydrogen gas. Hydrogen reacts again with atmospheric
oxygen, producing water, which reacts with the remaining potassium. This
reaction requires only traces of water. Because of this, potassium and the
liquid sodium-potassium (NaK) alloy are potent desiccants that can be used
to dry solvents prior to distillation (Burkhardt, 2006).
Potassium Compounds
The only common oxidation state for potassium is +1. Potassium
metal is a powerful reducing agent that is easily oxidized to the
monopositive cation, K+. Once oxidized, it is very stable and difficult to
reduce back to the metal (Dye, 1979).
Potassium oxidizes faster than most metals and often forms oxides
containing oxygen-oxygen bonds, as do all alkali metals except lithium.
There are three possible oxides of potassium: potassium oxide (K2O),
potassium peroxide (K2O2), and potassium superoxide (KO2); they
contain three different oxygen-based ions: oxide (O2-), peroxide (O2-2), and
superoxide (O-2) (Lide, 1998).
Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is a very strong alkali, and up to 1.21
kg of it can dissolve in a single liter of water. KOH reacts readily with
carbon dioxide to produce potassium carbonate, and is used to remove traces
of the gas from air (Lide, 1998). In general, potassium compounds are
highly ionic and, owing to the high hydration energy of the K+ ion, have
excellent water solubility. The main species in water solution are the
aquated complexes [K(H2O)n]+ where n = 6 and 7 (Lincoln et al., 2004).
Potassium carbonate, the inorganic compound with the formula
K2CO3. It is a white salt, which is soluble in water. It is deliquescent, often
appearing a damp or wet solid. Potassium carbonate is mainly used in the
production of soap and glass. Solubility in water: 112 g/100 mL (20 °C) and
156 g/100 mL (100 °C). Solubility in other solvent: 3.11 g/100 mL (25 °C)
(Schultz et al., 2000)..
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3. Electrochemical Series
Electrochemical series or Volta series are sequences of metals (plus
hydrogen) based on the increasing potential of the standard electrode.
Table 1. Electrochemical Series of Several Compounds
Half-reaction E0 (V)
Oxidant ⇌ Reductant
K+ + e− ⇌ K(s) −2.931
Na+ + e− ⇌ Na(s) −2.71
2H2O + 2 e− ⇌ H2(g) + 2 OH− −0.8277
2 H+ + 2 e− ⇌ H2(g) 0
HO2• + H+ + e− ⇌ H2O2(aq) +1.51
H2O2(aq) + 2 H+ + 2 e− ⇌ 2H2O +1.78
(Vanýsek, 2007)
Substances
1. NaOH crystal sufficiently
2. KOH sufficiently
3. Concentrated HCl. 0,1 M sufficiently
4. H2SO4 0,1 M sufficiently
5. KCl 1 M solution, 0,1 M sufficiently
6. NaCl 1M solution sufficiently
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7. Sodium peroxide sufficiently
8. Starch solution sufficiently
9. Sodium metal sufficiently
10. Wool yarn, wood ash sufficiently
11. Glauber salt, Na2SO4.10H2O sufficiently
12. PP indicator sufficiently
F. LANES WORK
1. Testing Metal with Water
A little piece of Na
Pink solution
Reactions:
▪ 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
▪ 2NaOH(aq) + HIn(aq) → NaIn(aq) + H2O
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2. Testing Sodium Compound with Air
NaOH melted
- Added 2 mL water
- Stirred until dissolved
- Poured half of solution into test tube
- Added concentrated HCl drop by drop
- Observed the result
CO2 gas
Reactions:
▪ NaOH(s) + CO2(g) → Na2CO3(aq)
▪ Na2CO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
▪ Na2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) → Na2CO3(aq)
Purple solution
Reactions:
▪ Na2O2(s) + H2SO4(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + H2O2(aq)
▪ 2KI(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) + H2O2(aq) → I2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) + K2SO4(aq)
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▪
Water evaporated
Reaction:
ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡
Na2SO4.10H2O(s) → Na2SO4(s) + 10H2O(l)
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5. Flame Test of Sodium
Platinum wire
Colorless flame
Yellow flame
Reaction:
NaCl(aq) → Na+ + Cl-
Formed heat
Reaction:
KOH(s) + H2O(l) → KOH(aq) + H2O(l)
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7. Testing Properties and Exoterm Reaction of Potassium Hydroxide
1-2 mL KOH(aq)
Tube 1 Tube 2
Colorless solution
Reactions:
▪ KOH(aq) + Br2(aq) → KBrO(aq) + KBr(aq) + H2O(l)
▪ H2O(l) + KBr(aq) + 2HCl(aq) + KBrO(aq) → Br2(aq) + KCl(aq) +
2H2O(l)
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8. Testing the Properties of Wood Ash
Filtrate Residue
Pink solution
Reactions:
▪ K2CO3(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H2CO3(aq)
▪ KOH + PP → complex indicator
Reaction:
K2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(a) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)
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10. Reaction Between Tartaric Acid and KCl
2 mL KCl 0,1M
Colerless Crystal
Reaction:
H2C4O6H4 + KCl(aq) → KHC4H4O6(s)
Platinum wire
Colerless flame
Purple flame
Reaction:
KCl(aq) → K+ + Cl-
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G. OBSERVATION RESULT
Experiment Result
No. Procedure Prediction/Reaction Conclusion
Before After
1 Testing Metal with Water ▪ Na: soft silver ▪ Na packed with ▪ 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) Reaction
- A little piece of Na placed on dry filter metal filter paper ▪ 2NaOH(aq) + HIn(aq) → NaIn(aq) + between Na
paper above the water ▪ Filter paper: entered to water: H2O solid and
- Placed floatly on 25 mL water in beaker white paper formed fire, H2O formed
glass ▪ Aquades: bubble, colorless NaOH,
- Quickly covered the beaker glass by colorless liquid solution alkaline
using arloji glass ▪ PP indicator: ▪ +PP indicator: ▪ solution that
- Observed the result colorless pink solution changed its
- Tested by using PP indicator solution color when
- The color of solution change into pink tested with
solution pp indicator
(became
pink
solution)
2 Testing Sodium Compound with Air ▪ NaOH: white ▪ NaOH let it for a ▪ NaOH(s) + CO2(g) → Na2CO3(aq) Formed CO2
solid momment: melted gas proven
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- A little piece of NaOH placed on ▪ HCl ▪ NaOH melted + ▪ Na2CO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + by the bubble
porcelain cup concentrated: aquades: NaOH H2O(l) + CO2(g) and occur
- Let it for a momment yellow solution diluted, colorless ▪ Na2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) → Na2CO3(aq) exoterm
- Observed the changing solution reaction
- NaOH melted ▪ +HCl
- Added 2 mL water concentrated: heat
- Stirred until dissolved + colorless
- Poured half of solution into test tube solution + bubble
- Added concentrated HCl drop by drop
- Observed the result
- Formed CO2 gas
3 Testing Peroxide Compounds ▪ Na2O2: white ▪ Na2O2 + H2SO4 = ▪ Na2O2(s) + H2SO4(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + Form the
- A little piece Na2O2 placed on porcelai solid turbid solution, H2O2(aq) reaction
cup ▪ H2SO4 8M: warm ▪ 2KI(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) + H2O2(aq) → formed
- Added diluted H2SO4 1 mL colorless ▪ +KI + starch: I2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) + K2SO4(aq) NaOH
- Added KI + starch (1:1) solution purple solution indicated by
- The color of solution change into purple ▪ KI: colorless formed iod -
solution solution amylum
complex
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▪ Starch: (purple
colorless solution)
solution
▪
4 Testing Dehydration of Glauber’s Salt ▪ Glauber’s salt: ▪ Glauber’s salt + ▪ Na SO 10H O(s) ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡
→ Na2SO4(s) + H2O
2 4. 2
- A little spoon of Glauber’s salt entered colorless heated: formed 10H2O(l) evaporated
into dry test tube crystal H2O on the wall because of
- Heated on bunsen of tube + formed heating
- Observed the changing white powder process
- The water evaporated
5 Flame Test of Sodium ▪ Platinum wire: ▪ Platinum wire + ▪ NaCl(aq) → Na+ + Cl- Based on
- Platinum wire dipped into water brown wire H2O: no color experiment,
- Flame on bunsen ▪ Water (l): changing on the color of
- Repeated 2 times, the flame is colorless colorless flame NaCl flame
- Dipped into HCl solution ▪ Platinum wire + test is yellow
- Flame on bunsen ▪ Flame color HCl: no color
- Repeated 2 times Inner: blue changing on
- Dipped into NaCl solution Outside: orange flame
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- Flame on bunsen ▪ HCl(aq) ▪ Platinum wire +
- The color of flame is yellow concentrated: NaCl: yellow
yellow solution flame
▪ NaCl(aq):
colorless
solution
6 Testing Properties and Exoterm Reaction of ▪ KOH(S): white ▪ KOH + aquades: ▪ KOH(s) + H2O(l) → KOH(aq) + H2O(l) The
Potassium Hydroxide solid colorless solution, characteristic
- A little piece of KOH washed with water ▪ Water(l): warm of potassium
until dissolved (2 mL) colorless ▪ Tested by is formed
- Observed the reaction, formed heat solution dropped onto tip heat
- Dropped onto tip of finger of finger: warm (exothermic
- Observed the changing, skin burned slick reaction)
with H2O
7 Testing Properties and Exoterm Reaction of ▪ KOH(aq): ▪ KOH + aquades: ▪ KOH(aq) + Br2(aq) → KBrO(aq) + Formed KCl
Potassium Hydroxide white solid warm, turbid KBr(aq) + H2O(l) indicated by
- 1-2 mL KOH(aq) diluted with 5 mL ▪ Water(l): ▪ +5 mL aquades: the color of
water colorless liquid colorless solution litmus paper
- Dividen into 2 test tubes Tube 1 change from
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- Test tube 1 added with 1 mL Br2 0,1M ▪ Br2(aq): ▪ +1 mL Br2: ▪ H2O(l) + KBr(aq) + 2HCl(aq) + blue into red.
- Observed the changing, colorless colorless colorless solution KBrO(aq) → Br2(aq) + KCl(aq) + The wol
solution solution ▪ +litmus paper 2H2O(l) thread more
- Added diluted HCl, colorless solution ▪ Diluted Red → blue dense.
- Test tube 2 added with wol thread HCl(aq): ▪ +HCl (45 drops):
- Heated carefully colorless colorless solution
- Observed the changing, formed bubble solution ▪ +blue litmus →
and the wol thread more dense than ▪ Wol thread: red litmus
before whitte thread ▪ Formed bubble
Tube 2
▪ +wol: colorless
solution
▪ +heated: the wol
thread more dense
than before
▪ Formed bubble
8 Testing the Properties of Wood Ash ▪ Wood dust: ▪ Wood dust + ▪ K2CO3(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + Formed base
- A few wood dust entered into test tube grey powder aquades: grey H2CO3(aq) solution
- Added 5 mL water solution (KOH)
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- Shaked it for a momment ▪ Water: ▪ +filtered: turbid ▪ KOH + PP → complex indicator indicated by
- Filtered it, result: filtrate and residue colorless liquid solution after addition
- Filtrate tested with PP indicator ▪ PP indicator: ▪ Resiude: blank PP solution
- Observed the result colorless residue become pink
- The color of solution become pink solution ▪ Filtrate + PP: pink ▪ solution
▪ Ksp value of K2CO3(s) = 112 g / 100mL
solution solution
(20 ° C) (Schultz, Bauer, Schachl,
Hagedorn, & Schmittinger, 2000).
9 Testing the Properties of Wood Ash ▪ Wood dust: ▪ Wood dust + HCl: ▪ K2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(a) + From the
- A little piece of wood dust entered into grey powder black solution + H2O(g) + CO2(g) reaction
test tube ▪ HCl: colorless bubble between
- Added drop by drop HCl solution wood dust +
- Observed the result HCl formed
- Formed CO2 gas CO2 gas
10 Reaction Between Tartaric Acid and KCl ▪ KCl(aq): ▪ KCl + tartaric acid ▪ H2C4O6H4 + KCl(aq) → KHC4H4O6(s) Based on
- 2 mL of KCl 0,1M entered into test tube colorless (20 drops): experiment
- Added concentrated tartaric acid 2M solution colorless solution the reaction
- Observed the result + formed formed
- Formed colorless crystal colorless crystal colorless
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▪ Tartaric acid crystal which
(aq): colorless is
solution KHC4H4O6
solid
11 Reaction Between Tartaric Acid and KCl ▪ Platinum wire: ▪ Platinum wire + ▪ KCl(aq) → K+ + Cl- Based on this
- Platinum wire dipped into water brown wire H2O: no changing experiment
- Flame on bunsen ▪ Wter: colorless the color of flame the color of
- Repeated 2 times liquid ▪ Platinum wire + KCl flame
- Colorless flame ▪ HCl(aq): HCl: no color test is puple
- Dipped into HCl yellow solution changing on
- Flame on bunsen ▪ KCl(aq): flame
- Repeated 2 times colorless ▪ Platinum wire +
- Dipped into KCl solution solution KCl: purple flame
- Place on a flame ▪ Flame
- The color of flame is purple Inner: Blue
Outside: orange
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H. ANALYSIS
1. Testing Metal with Water
The first experiment was aimed at testing one of the properties of
sodium as an alkali group, namely reactive (easily to react). IA metal when
reacted with water will produce hydroside compounds. When tested with a
PP indicator the color of the solution will turn pink. The first step is a small
piece of Na placed on a dry filter paper so it does not come in direct contact
with water, to avoid explosion (the reactive nature of Na). Then put into a
beaker and immediately covered with a watch glass so that the explosion
does not go anywhere and to isolate the reaction in the beaker (the formation
of NaOH formation). The reaction that occurs is a redox reaction in an
alkaline atmosphere, as follows:
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Oxidation
0 +1
Reduction
+1 0
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2. Testing Sodium Compound with Air
The second experiment aims to test one of the sodium properties of its
compound which is hygroscopic (the ability of a substance to absorb water
molecules from its environment either through absorption or adsorption).
The first step is a small piece of NaOH put into a porcelain cup and
let stand for several minutes, the NaOH solid melts.
Reaction: NaOH(s) + CO2(g) → Na2CO3(aq)
Then add 2 mL of water and stir, NaOH dissolves into a colorless
solution.
Reaction: Na2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) → Na2CO3(aq)
Then put half of it into the test tube and add concentrated HCl drop by
drop, formed a bubble and the test tube becomes a little hot. The bubbles
that form indicate the formation of CO2 gas while heat indicates the reaction
that occurs is an exothermic reaction. With the following reaction.
Na2CO3(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) ∆𝐻 = -2,20 kJ
Reduction
+2 +1
Oxidation
-2 -1
Oxidation : O2(g) + 2H+ + 2e− ⇌ H2O2(aq) E0 = +0,70
Reduction : 2Na2+ + e- ⇌ 2Na+ E0 = -2,71
(Vanýsek, 2007)
2KI(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) + H2O2(aq) → I2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) + K2SO4(aq)
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Na2O2 acts as a strong oxidizer, H2O2 acts as an intermediate while
H2SO4 acts as an acidic atmosphere (a condition for redox reactions).
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NaCl(aq) → Na+ + Cl-
HCl in this experiment serves to clean impurities (metals other than
the sample), if there is impurities can contaminate the flame test from
platinum wires that have been put into sodium compounds. Platinum wire
is used in connection with the inert nature (not reacting), so that only sodium
compounds react with fire. The color of the flame (yellow) occurs due to
the excitation of electrons caused by the heat of the fire (energy). Sodium
glow yellow because the excited 3s electrons of sodium emit a photon when
they fall from 3p to 3s; the wavelength of this photon corresponds to the D
line at about 589.3 nm (Schumann, 2008).
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Tube 2, woolen threads, then heated carefully. Bubbles and wool yarn
appear to be denser than before. Inside the wool yarn there is a cross
disulfide bond, the bond is then broken by KOH. Heating functions to
accelerate the termination by increasing kinetic energy.
The reactions that occur during the seventh practicum are:
KOH(aq) + Br2(aq) → KBrO(aq) + KBr(aq) + H2O(l)
H2O(l) + KBr(aq) + 2HCl(aq) + KBrO(aq) → Br2(aq) + KCl(aq) +
2H2O(l)
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solution and bubbles (which indicate the formation of CO2 gas). With the
following reaction.
K2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(a) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)
The solubility of K2CO3 in HCl is lower when compared to the
solubility in water which is 3.11 g / 100 mL (25°C) ( (Schultz et al., 2000).
I. CONCLUSION
Sodium is one of the alkali groups that has a reactive nature, proven when
reacted with water to form a burst, the reaction between the two forms an
alkaline NaOH solution. Sodium compounds have hygroscopic properties and
undergo exothermic reactions when reacted with HCl. Another example of
sodium compounds is Na2O2 acts as a strong oxidizer and Glauber salt, when
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heated will separate H2O as liquid and Na2SO4 as solid from its hydrate
compound. The flame test on the sodium compound shows a yellow flame.
Senyawa kalium mempunyai sifat kaustik dan mengalami reaksi
eksoterm dengan air. Senyawa kalium yaitu KOH dapat menguraikan benang
wol dengan memutus ikatan disulfida. The solubility of potassium compounds,
K2CO3 in HCl is lower when compared to its solubility in water. Reaction
Between Tartaric Acid and KCl formed Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate
(KHC4H4O6(s)). The flame test of the potassium compound, KOH, shows a
purple flame.
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REFERENCES
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Vanýsek, P. (2007). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics: Electrochemical Series
(88th ed.). Chemical Rubber Company.
Wiberg, E., Wiberg, N., & Holleman, A. F. (Arnold F. (2001). Inorganic chemistry.
Academic Press.
28 | (S o d i u m a n d P o t a s s i u m )
ATTACHMENTS
A. Documentation
Identify characteristic of Sodium
29 | (S o d i u m a n d P o t a s s i u m )
Testing Peroxide Compound
Flame Test
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The characteristic potassium compound
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Identify K compound
Identify K compound
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Reaction between KCl with H2C4H2O6
B. Question Answers
1) Explain the properties of sodium peroxide!
Answer:
Sodium peroxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2O2.
This yellowish solid is the product of sodium ignited in excess oxygen, it is
a strong base. Sodium peroxide crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry.
Upon heating, the hexagonal form undergoes a transition into a phase of
unknown symmetry at 512°C. With further heating above the 657°C boiling
point, the compound decomposes to Na2O, releasing O2.
2Na2O2 → 2Na2O + O2
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2) Explain the properties, preparation and use of sodium!
Answer:
Properties
Sodium at standard temperature and pressure is a soft silvery metal
that combines with oxygen in the air and forms grayish white sodium oxide
unless immersed in oil or inert gas, which are the conditions it is usually
stored in. Sodium metal can be easily cut with a knife and is a good
conductor of electricity and heat because it has only one electron in its
valence shell, resulting in weak metallic bonding and free electrons, which
carry energy. Due to having low atomic mass and large atomic radius,
sodium is third-least dense of all elemental metals and is one of only three
metals that can float on water, the other two being lithium and potassium.
The melting (98°C) and boiling (883°C) points of sodium are lower than
those of lithium but higher than those of the heavier alkali metals potassium,
rubidium, and caesium, following periodic trends down the group.
Preparation
Employed only in rather specialized applications, only about
100,000 tonnes of metallic sodium are produced annually. Metallic sodium
was first produced commercially in the late 19th century by carbothermal
reduction of sodium carbonate at 1100°C, as the first step of the Deville
process for the production of aluminium:
Na2CO3 + 2C → 2Na + 3CO
The high demand for aluminium created the need for the production
of sodium. The introduction of the Hall–Héroult process for the production
of aluminium by electrolysing a molten salt bath ended the need for large
quantities of sodium. A related process based on the reduction of sodium
hydroxide was developed in 1886.
Sodium is now produced commercially through the electrolysis of
molten sodium chloride, based on a process patented in 1924. This is done
in a Downs cell in which the NaCl is mixed with calcium chloride to lower
the melting point below 700°C. As calcium is less electropositive than
sodium, no calcium will be deposited at the cathode. This method is less
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expensive than the previous Castner process (the electrolysis of sodium
hydroxide).
Uses
Though metallic sodium has some important uses, the major
applications for sodium use compounds; millions of tons of sodium
chloride, hydroxide, and carbonate are produced annually. Sodium
chloride is extensively used for anti-icing and de-icing and as a
preservative; examples of the uses of sodium bicarbonate include baking, as
a raising agent, and sodablasting. Along with potassium, many important
medicines have sodium added to improve their bioavailability; though
potassium is the better ion in most cases, sodium is chosen for its lower price
and atomic weight. Sodium hydride is used as a base for various reactions
(such as the aldol reaction) in organic chemistry, and as a reducing agent in
inorganic chemistry.
Metallic sodium is used mainly for the production of sodium
borohydride, sodium azide, indigo, and triphenylphosphine. A once-
common use was the making of tetraethyllead and titanium metal; because
of the move away from TEL and new titanium production methods, the
production of sodium declined after 1970. In organic synthesis, sodium is
used in various reactions such as the Birch reduction, and the sodium fusion
test is conducted to qualitatively analyse compounds. Sodium reacts with
alcohol and gives alkoxides, and when sodium is dissolved in ammonia
solution, it can be used to reduce alkynes to trans-alkenes.
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