Whats in that Bottle?

Unknown Challenge
Lab #9
Introduction
Various properties of materials suit them for a given application. For example, we do not make electrical wires
of glass because glass tends to be fragile and nonconductive, whereas copper and aluminum are malleable and
conductive. What makes materials behave the way they do? To a large extent, the forces between the materials
atoms and its molecules determine its properties.
Concepts
Chemical bonds
Covalent bonding

Ionic bonding
Metallic bonding

Intramolecular Forces
Intermolecular Forces

Background
When atoms combine to make a compound, intramolecular forces hold them together (within the molecule
itself). Two general types of these forces are ionic and covalent. Bonds are typically described on the basis of
which of these two characters is exhibited more strongly. For example, the bond between a metal and a
nonmetal has more an ionic than a covalent character and is referred to as an an ionic bond. In an ionic bond,
electrostatic attraction between two ions holds the compound together. The bond between two nonmetals is
typically considered covalent. In a nonpolar covalent bond, electrons are shared equally. In a covalent bond
with a bit more ionic character, the electrons are shared but unequally; the atom with greater electronegativity
attracts the electrons more strongly. This unequal sharing creates poles of charges, and these bonds are termed
polar covalent bonds. While intramolecular forces are stronger than intermolecular forces (between different
molecules), both forces determine a materials properties.
Ionic solids are those formed by the attraction between ionic compounds. In an ionic solid, the particles are
attracted to one another electrostatically. This forms lattice structures in which the ions are held together tightly
in three dimensions with ionic bonds; an example is the sodium and chlorine ions in sodium chloride. In ionic
solids, smaller ions and ions with higher charges have strong coulombic forces (attraction between positive and
negative charges). Because of these forces, ionic solids have high melting points; the greater the coulombic
forces, the higher the melting points of the solids. These coulombic forces also cause them to have low vapor
pressure. In addition to high melting points, ionic solids are brittle, due to the repulsion of similar charges when
the ions slide across each other during fracture. Ionic solids do not conduct electricity in their solid forms
because the electrons are not free to move; however, in the liquid state or when dissolved in a polar solvent such
as water, the ions of an ionic compound can transfer electrons from one electrode to another.
Covalent network solids are compounds in which there are covalent bonds between all of the atoms, such as
diamonds or quartz (silicon dioxide). These atoms are bonded together in two- or three-dimensional networks.
Because of the strong covalent bond (forces stronger than intermolecular forces), these solids also have high
melting points. The fixed covalent bond angles cause these substances to be very hard. In many cases, the
numerous covalent bonds do not allow for free electrons to conduct electricity. In some cases when there is only
a two-dimensional network such as in graphite, they are able to conduct.
Unlike covalent network solids and ionic solids, molecular solids do not have high boiling points. If these solids
are compounds, they have discrete, covalently bonded molecules that do not form covalent bonds with
neighboring particles. These solids tend to be comprised of atoms (such as argon), diatomic elements (such as
oxygen), or molecules (such as methane) that are held together only by intermolecular forces (hydrogen
bonding dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces). This weaker bonding allows these particles

to be separated more easily, accounting for both the low boiling point and the tendency toward softness in
molecular solids. Because the individual molecules in molecular solids exhibit covalent boning and have no free
electrons, these solids do not conduct electricity.
Elements such as iron and silver are metallic solids, crystalline solids in which only metal atoms are packed
together. While these atoms do not form ionic or covalent bonds, their attraction is greater than can be attributed
only to London dispersion forces. These atoms have delocalized valence electrons that move around the core of
the atoms in what is often referred to as an electron sea. The sharing of electrons in this manner is termed
metallic bonding. Because their electrons are free to move, metals are very good electrical conductors. Also
due to the arrangement of electrons, metallic solids are ductile (able to be drawn into thin wires) and malleable
(able to be hammered into shapes). Metals vary greatly in their melting points and hardness because of the
range in atomic size and in number of electrons.
Experiment Overview
The purpose of this lab is to identify one unknown solids based on systematic testing of their physical and
chemical properties observed from testing from known solids. You will work in a team to develop a set of
criteria for determining the type of solid that a sample represents.
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Explain the difference between intermolecular forces and intramolecular forces. Give an example of
each.
2. How would you be able to determine whether a given compound were:
a. ionic solid or a covalent network solid?
b. A metallic solid or an ionic solid?
c. A covalent network solid or a molecular solid?
Table 1. Properties and Bond Types of Solid Compounds
Types of
Elements
Solubility in 25 o C
Compound
Observations
MP(oC)
(Metal,
Type of Bond
Water
Nonmetal
)
Potassium Chloride
White Solid
993
Yes
M/NM
Ionic
(KCl)
Sucrose (C12H22O11)
White Solid
186
Yes
NM/NM
Polar Covalent
Iodine (I2)
Dark gray Solid
114
Slightly soluble
NM/NM
Nonpolar Covalent
Zinc (Zn)
Gray, shiny
1535
No
M
Metallic
metal
Using Table 1, answer questions 3-4.
3. Compare the type of bond with regard to the properties below using Table 1 and explain any
relationships. HINT: Think of what is happening between the bonded atoms as well as what occurs
between the particles.
a. Melting point
b. Solubility in 25 o C
4. Predict the properties of each substance below based on Table 1.

Compounds
Hexane (C6H6)
Bromobenzene (C6H5Br)

Bond Type:
Nonpolar Covalent,
Polar Covalent,
Metallic, Ionic

Relative Melting
Point (High or
Low)

Solubility in 25 o C
Water

Potassium Chloride (KCl)

Iron (Fe)
5. Read the laboratory procedure and diagram the steps using illustrations or a flow chart. Ensure that your
diagrams are labeled with quantities and descriptions.

Materials

Safety Precautions
Procedure: Identifying Properties of Chemical Bonds
Appearance:
1. Label the wells of two well plates with letters A-L. In one well plate, place a sample (two small scoops
or two small pieces) of each substance in the well that corresponds with the label. This will be your
source of substances for all of your testing.
2. Place a small amount (one or two grains, or a small piece) of a substance on a glass slide. Examine the
sample carefully with magnification. Record your observations.
Malleability/Brittleness:
3. Crush the sample by rolling a small test tube over it a few times with light pressure. Again examine the
sample carefully with magnification. Indicate whether the sample was malleable, ale to be deformed.
Record your observations.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all the chemical samples.
Conductivity and Solubility:
5. Test the conductivity of the solids in the well plate using a conductivity tester. Record the results.
6. Place a small amount (just the amount that fits on the tip of a wooden stirring stick) of each chemical in
the corresponding well of the second well plate. Add approximately 1mL of deionized water to each
well. Stir. Record the solubility as soluble, slightly soluble, or insoluble.
7. Test the conductivity of the liquid in each well. Record the results.
Melting Point:
8. Take a small amount of four samples and place them each in an aluminum dish. Place them on a hot
plate at a medium heat setting (~5). Wait for 1 minute; record any that have melted as having low
melting points.
9. Remove any that have melted at this temperature. Keep others that have not melted at the hot plate and
turn the knob up 3 notches (~8). Wait for 1 minute and record any that melt in that time as having

medium melting points. Remove those that melted from the hot plate. Record the remainder of
substance that did not melt as high melting points.

Data:
Sample

Appearanc
e

Result of
Crushing/
Malleability

Conductivity
of Solid

Solubility

Conductivity of
Aqueous
Solution

Melting
Point

A.)
Paraffin
Wax

White
Squishy

Flattens

none

insoluble

low

low

B.)
Copper

Bronze
Hard

High

insoluble

conductive

high

C.)
Sucrose

White
Powdery

Will not do
anything but
slip away
can be crushed
smaller

none

soluble

conductive
medium

low

D.)
NaCl

White
LIttle
crystals

can be crushed
smaller

none

soluble

conductive high

high

White
Powder

Brittle

None

High

high

Unknown
#A
Unknown
#B

Unknown
#C

Unknown
#D

soluble

None
White
powder

Brittle

Gray
Rocks
Chunky

Brittle

grey
chunky

Malleable

High

slightly
soluble

Low

not soluble

Low

low

high

low
High

not soluble

Low

Post Lab Questions

1. On the basis of the collected data, determine what type of solid each sample is. Provide an explanation
for each sample.
Sample Type of Solid
Explanation
Ionic
High melting point, soluble
A
Polar Covalent
Slightly soluble, medium melting point
B
Metallic
Highly Conductive, high melting point, unsoluble
C
Nonpolar
Low melting point, soluble
D
Covalent

2. Materials have different purposes, due to their properties. Which material(s) from your lab activity

would serve each of the following uses. Explain.

a. To conduct electricity through wires in a high temperature environment.
Metallic because it is conductive and has a high melting point.
b. To insulate against conducting electricity in a high temperature environment.
Ionic because it is non-conductive and has a high melting point.
c. To form an electrolyte and conduct electricity to allow water to be hydrolyzed.
Polar because it has an uneven charge and is conductive.
d. To melt at a low temperature and pour into molds for modeling.
Nonpolar because it has a low melting point and is malleable.
3. Explain the difference in the melting points of iodine and sodium chloride samples on the basis of their
bonding and intermolecular forces. Which sample had strong intermolecular forces and why? Iodine is
Nonpolar covalent and Sodium Chloride is Ionic. It takes more energy to break up Ionic bonding
than nonpolar covalent.
4. Explain the difference in conductivity (if any) between samples of potassium chloride and sucrose.

There is no difference out of water, but when you put in it water the ionic bond will be
more conductive than the other one.