Neeki Amirjavadi

Period 1
Ms.Everett
January 17, 2017

Identifying an Unknown Chemical in Reference to Reactions

Purpose:
The purpose of the lab is to find the identity of the unknown chemical used in the last
column of reactions. The unknown chemical is identified by utilizing the already
classified chemical reactions and referencing to similar qualitative between the chemicals
such as BaCl and SrCl
2 2

Hypothesis
By testing how the unknown solution reacts with other solutions, the unknown chemical
will be identified as barium chloride (BaCl ), due to its ability to react each time it is
2

added to solutions such as Na CO , Na SO , and KIO Analysis of the similarity between

2 3 2 4 3.

qualitative observations support that the unknown chemical is barium chloride because
the reactions it produces resembles the chemical reactions in which barium chloride is
already identified .

Materials
Flat surface
One 24-well reaction plate
Chemical samples:
o CaCl 2

o MgCl 2

o SrCl 2

o BaCl 2

o Na CO 2 3

o Na SO 2 4

o KIO 3

Unknown chemical in a single beaker

Eight plastic pipettes (one for each chemical)
Eight small beakers (each separately containing each chemical sample)
Paper and pencil for recording information
30 drops of MgCl 2

30 drops of CaCl 2

30 drops of SrCl 2

30 drops of BaCl 2

40 drops of Na CO 2 3

40 drops of Na SO 2 4

40 drops of KIO 3
Procedure
1. Referring to the data table as a guide, use a pipette to add 10 drops if each
solution into the appropriate wells:
1. Magnesium chloride, MgCl , into wells A1-C1 2

2. Calcium Chloride, CaCl , into wells A2- C2

2

3. Strontium chloride, SrCl , into wells A3-C3

2

4. Barium chloride, BaCl , into wells A4-C3

2

5. Unknown A or B into wells A5 - C5

b. Use a clean pipette to add 10 drops of each testing solution into the appropriate
wells
a. Sodium Carbonate, Na CO , into wells A1-A5
2 3

b. Sodium sulfate, Na SO , into wells B1-B5

2 4

c. Potassium iodate, KIO , into wells C1-C5

3

a. Pace 24-well reaction plate on a dark surface (if it is not already) and observe the
reaction that have taken place
b. Record observations in data table. If a solid forms in a well, write PPT
(precipitate) for that reactions.
a. If no solid is observed, write NR (no reaction).
b. Include observations to discuss in conclusion
5. Rinse all the continents down the sink. Wash the well-plate with soap and water.
Data Collection/Data Table
MgCl 2 CaCl 2 SrCl 2 BaCl 2 Unknown

Na CO
2 3
-Slightly -Whiter and -Foggy appearance in -Solid color -Overtime became thicker,
milky more opaque terms of whiteness -Off-white coloring slimy as if mucos
Speckled -Also -Uneven distribution -Thicker looking -Resembles DNA strand of
-Na CO
2 3 resembles of Na CO which
2 3 -Forms precipitate that a strawberry
-Resembles pulp accounts for the resembles a more solid, -Appears stringy with clear
pulp in orange -Small dots splotchy-ness slightly cloudy and white and solid strings
juice freckle the -Larger flake-like stringy appearance -Does not mix to form a
-Partially surface structures rest at liquid
clear bottom -looks like the tails of
-Visible jellyfish
streaks

Na SO
2 4
-No visible -No visible -White speckles and -Fizzed when Na SO 2 4 -Fizzed when Na SO came
2 4

reaction reaction miniscule dots take up came in contact with in contact with the
-Remains in -Remains in the liquid BaCl 2 unknown.
same original same original -Still separated -Foggy appearance -Foggy appearance
appearance appearance because dots don't resembling diluted milk -Completely mixed even
-Completely -Completely completely mix -slightly grey tinting though it remained cloudy
transparent transparent -Layers of circular -murky -diluted milk appearance
Na SO
2 4

-Slight temperature
decrease

KIO 3
-No visible -No visible -No visible reaction -quick diffusing -quick diffusing
reaction reaction -Slightly transparent change/reaction change/reaction when KIO 3

-Remains in -Remains in -very small visibility -cloudy and milky was placed in liquid
same original same original of KIO3 in terms of -white color is opaque -thick, white and opaque
appearance appearance cloudy white speckles -Appears like sugar coloring
-Completely -Slightly that collect at the that collects at the -eventually and completely
transparent transparent bottom and in the top bottom mixed to become a total
-very small center -KIO lumps at the
3 white color that resembled
visibility of -resembles light snow bottom in clear white the shade of glue (not the
KIO3 (this could be soap) formation consistency)
-Very light, -Light, faded, fog -salty formations and
faded, fog in structures collected at the
the center bottom

Analysis/Results/Conclusion
After performing the lab to identify the unknown chemical, the data supported the
hypothesis that the unknown chemical was barium chloride (BaCl ) because after utilizing 2

qualitative data of the already classified chemical reactions, and comparing the
appearance of the reactions, barium chloride was the unidentified chemical. The unknown
chemical was able to successfully react with Na CO , Na SO , and KIO ; without having
2 3 2 4 3.

any non-reactions, just as barium chloride had. In the proper sequences and
combinations, it was clear that the reactions that had occurred in response to barium
chloride being added to a liquid were identical to the reactions that took place when the
unknown was used through the same process.
 The qualitative observations made after the reactions had settled also provided
solid evidence as to the how the chemical was barium chloride due to the resemblance of
the products of both barium chloride and the unknown chemical. For instance, when
the already-classified barium chloride was added to Na CO , the reaction occurred to
2 3

produce a solution with an off-white coloring as well as a precipitate that resembled a

more solid, slightly cloudy and stringy appearance. When the reaction was repeated as the
unknown was added to Na CO , similar results has been produced. The reaction had also
2 3

occurred to form a clear precipitate that overtime became thicker, and slimy as if
mucus. The product of the reaction between barium chloride and Na CO also 2 3

resembled DNA strand of stringy structure and cloudy, off white coloring. Another
instance when the unknown matched the reactive properties of barium chloride was when
when the already-classified barium chloride was added to Na SO , to result in a similar
2 4

reaction as the unknown combining with Na SO Both reactions produced identical

2 4.

results, as the liquid changed to appear foggy, murky, with sightly grey tinting that
resembled diluted milk. Both reactions had fizzed and let air bubbles escape as well,
which was a prominent feature of the reaction that set it apart from the others. Finally, the
last reaction of barium chloride and KIO additionally resembled the reaction that took
3

place between the unknown and KIO , only to further support why the unknown was
3

barium chloride. Both reacted to form a cloudy, milky liquid in which a potential
precipitate was formed-because the end result resembled a collection of salt at the bottom
of the well. This salt-like structure also could be identified as the incredibly opaque,
white coloring that the liquid had developed under the both reactions. Either way, both
the unknown and barium chloride,when added to KIO , had reacted by quickly diffusing
3

and developing a white coloring. For the reasons of identical appearance, both forming a
precipitate, and the similar process of reactions that had occurred, barium chloride and
the unknown chemical were the same solutions.
In addition to the qualitative observations and collected data that supported the
hypothesis, the chemical equations of the reactions were a clear indicator that the
unknown chemical was barium chloride. Not only did the reactions themselves match,
but the fact that the unknown chemical had the ability to react each time it was added to
the already-classified solutions such as Na CO , Na SO , and KIO , was an indicator that
2 3 2 4 3

the unknown was barium chloride. For instance, only in those circumstances that barium
chloride was combined with the other given chemicals that a reaction actually took pace.
The same applied for the unknown. Although it may have been plausible that the
unknown chemical was SrCl (due to the similarity in appearance) SrCl2 did not actually
2

react with KIO . However both the unknown and barium chloride did. By reference to the
3

activity series chart, it was clear that the only possible chemical that could be the
unknown was barium chloride because both successfully performed reactions with their
other chemicals.

The process in which the lab was performed could have been improved to
produce more solid and reliable results. For instance, before using the wells, it was
recognized that they were slightly dirty and not properly cleaned. Not until after the
reactions had taken place, had it occurred to my group and I, that the leftover residue in
the wells had affected the outcomes of the reactions and initially had altered the
appearance of the reactions. For this reason, our qualitative observations may had been
slightly off, which made it more difficult to identify the unknown chemical. The lab could
have also been improved if the individuals performing the lab were more precise and
attentive when adding drops of one type of chemical into the well to combine it with
another. Although only 10 drops were required to be added for each sequence/section, it
was difficult to count and assure that specifically 10 drops had been added. Furthermore,
the lab would have been more accurate in determining the unknown chemical if the data
collected went more in depth to describe the reaction rather than the products of the
reactions carefully examining the process of the reactions rather than solely the aftermath
would have ensured a more solid collection of evidence when support the hypothesis that
the unknown was barium chloride (BaCl ). 2

Chemical Reactions:

1 MgCl + 1 Na CO > 1 MgCO + 2 NaCl

2 2 3 3 1 CaCl + 1 Na CO > 2 NaCl + 1
2 2 3 1 SrCl + 1 Na CO > 2 NaCl +
2 2 3

CaCO 3 1 SrCO 3

MgCl + Na SO > NO REACTION

2 2 4
CaCl + Na SO > NO
2 2 4 1 SrCl + 1 Na SO > 2 NaCl + 1
2 2 4

REACTION SrSO 4

MgCl + KIO > NO REACTION

2 3
CaCl + KIO > NO REACTION
2 3 SrCl + + KIO > NO
2 3

REACTION

1 BaCl + 1 Na CO > 2 NaCl + 1 BaCO

2 2 3 3

1 BaCl + 1 Na SO > 2 NaCl + 1 BaSO

2 2 4 4

1 BaCl + 2 KIO > 1 Ba(IO ) + 2 KCL

2 3 3 2