A Classification of Substances

Aim:
To examine the physical properties of several substances and to
classify them into groups.

Equipment:
Power pack
Conductivity set
Test tubes

Chemicals:
Dichloromethane
Iodine
Potassium Nitrate
Sulfur Wax
Naphthalene
Zinc Oxide
Ethanol
Sand
Lead Iodide
Potassium Carbonate
Sodium Chloride
Sugar

Method:
1. Testing the conductivity-solid: Place just sufficient of one of
the substances in a test tube to cover the bottom of the
electrodes. Make sure the electrodes do not touch. Note
whether the lamp glows. Keep the substance for part 2. Test
iodine in fume cupboard. Clean electrodes after testing liquids.
Use 10 v D.C.
2. Testing the effect of heat to determine melting point: Using
the substances from part 1, heat each gently in a Bunsen flame
until it melts or until 2 minutes has elapsed, if the solid does
not melt (Do not heat any liquid it has already melted).
Record any changes that occur and make a comment as to the
melting point of each substance. Keep the molten substances
for part 3 (for heating iodine-one crystal only-in a small test
tube; gently heat in fume cupboard; record the change).
3. Testing the conductivity-molten: Use the resulting molten
substances from part 2 to find whether they conduct electricity
when molten. Do not test those that did melt. Record results.
4. Testing the solubility in water: Use clean test tubes and place
about two rice grains of each substance in a test tube. Attempt
to dissolve in approximately 2mL of water by shaking the tube.
Record results. Do not discard solutions.
5. Testing the conductivity of aqueous solutions: For the
substances in part 4 that were soluble test conductivity. Record
results.
6. Testing the solubility in dichloromethane: Attempt to
dissolve about 2 r.g. of each substance in about 2mL of
dichloromethane by shaking the tubes (discard residue bottle
in fume cupboard.

Results:

Name
Formula &
State
Cond. Of
pure
substance
Effect of
heat
Melting
point
Cond. Of
molten
substance
Solubility
in water
Cond. Of
substance
in water

Solubility
in
CH2Cl2
Dichloromethane Ch2Cl2 (L)
No
Conductivity N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Iodine I2 (S)
No
Conductivity Sublimates N/A N/A
Not
Soluble N/A Soluble
Potassium
Nitrate KNO3 (S)
No
Conductivity Melts Low Conductivity
Not
Soluble Conducted Soluble
Sulfur S (S)
No
Conductivity Melts Low
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble N/A Soluble
Wax CxHy
No
Conductivity Melts Low
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble N/A Soluble
Naphthalene C10H8 (S)
No
Conductivity Melts Low
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble
Zinc Oxide ZnO (S)
No
Conductivity
Doesn't
melt High
No
Conductivity Soluble
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble
Ethanol C2H5OH (L)
No
Conductivity N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Sand SiO2 (S)
No
Conductivity
Doesn't
melt High N/A
Not
Soluble N/A Soluble
Lead iodide Pbl2 (S)
No
Conductivity
Doesn't
melt High N/A Soluble Conducted
Not
Soluble
Potassium
Carbonate K2CO3 (S)
No
Conductivity
Doesn't
melt High N/A Soluble Conducted
Not
Soluble
Sodium chloride NaCl (S)
No
Conductivity Melts High Conductivity Soluble
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble
Sugar
C12H22O11
(S)
No
Conductivity Melts Low
No
Conductivity
Not
Soluble N/A Soluble


Discussion:
When I analyzed the results from the practical my group performed, I
found certain similarities and patterns take place between the
chemicals.

(Q1) What can be observed about the conductivity of solids?
(A) It was observed that no solids were conductive

(Q2) What is a common feature of the substances with a high melting
point?
(A) The common feature of substances with a high melting point
was that they were either ionic or covalent.

(Q3) Do any of the substances with low melting points have anything
in common?
(A) The substances that had a low melting point contained a
weak intermolecular bond. Their molecules are non-polar
and thus have a week attraction with other molecules.

(Q4) Which of these substances conduct electricity when molten?
(A) Potassium nitrate and sodium chloride conduct electricity in
a molten state because their ions are free to move around
and therefore carry a current.

(Q5) What is the common feature for substances that are soluble in
water and ones that arent?
(A) The common feature for substances that are soluble in
water is that they are all polar. The substances that are not
soluble are non-polar

(Q6) Which substances conduct when in a solution and what is
common between all of them?
(A) Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Carbonate and Lead Iodine all
conduct in a solution. They all conduct because they all
produce particular amounts of ions.

(Q7) What is common to those that did not conduct in a solution?
(A) The substances that are not aqueous do not conduct. The
substances that are not aqueous dissolved in
dichloromethane.
(Q8) Which substances are soluble in dichloromethane and, can you
conclude anything from this?
(A) Sugar, Sand, Sulfur, Potassium Nitrate, Naphthalene, Wax
and Iodine are all soluble in dichloromethane. This is
because they are all non-polar.

(Q9) List the substances that are exceptions to the generalizations
written and explain why each is an exception.
(A) Sand, Sulfur and Zinc Oxide are all exceptions to the
generalizations made above. Sulfur is an exception because
is doesnt form any kind of bond. Sand is an exception
because is has too high a melting point. Zinc Oxide is an
exception because it is an ionic compound, yet it does not
conduct electricity in an aqueous state.

Conclusion:
We can now conclude that substances that are non-conductive in
their solid state, conductive in their molten or aqueous state and
have a high melting point are ionic (metals and non-metals)
substances. The ionic substances that were used in this practical
potassium nitrate, potassium carbonate and zinc oxide.

Substances that are non-conductive in their solid, molten or aqueous
state, have a low melting point and low boiling point are covalent
substances. The covalent substances used in this practical were
naphthalene, iodine, sugar, sand, wax sulfur and ethanol.

Substances that are good conductors of electricity and have a high
melting and boiling point are metallic substances. There were no
metals in this practical.










Christopher Hughes