Philippine Science High School System

Resource Material in Chemistry 3

EXPERIMENT
_____________________________________________________________________________ 11
Investigating Some Properties of the 3rd Period Elements
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OBJECTIVES
 Determine and describe physical and chemical characteristics of available 3rd period elements, their
oxides and chlorides.
 Relate the electronic structure; thus, the position of the element in the periodic table and the nature of
bonding to the observed physical and chemical properties of their elemental forms, oxides and
chlorides.
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INTRODUCTION
The modern periodic law states that the characteristics of elements are periodic functions of their
atomic numbers. In general, the periodic table illustrate recurring trends in the physical and chemical behaviors
of the elements as their atomic number increases; hence, the term periodic.
As atomic number increases, so does the number of electrons. The number of electrons at the last
energy level are important in determining how an atom interacts with other atoms which in turn affects the type
molecular structure and their packing pattern it involves. The elements in a group have similar properties
because they have valence electrons in similar configurations. The elements in the periodic table are also
divided into categories such as the s-block, p-block, d-block, and f-block. Not only is this system useful for
finding element but much can be predicted about an element based on its position on the periodic table. The
compounds of the elements also follow related periodic trends.
Period 3 is most interesting to study trends in the periodic properties of elements as metals, metalloids,
and non-metals are well represented in it. Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), and Aluminum (Al) are metals;
Silicon (Si) is a metalloid; while Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), Chlorine (Cl), and Argon (Ar) are non-metals; the
latter being a noble gas. Na and Mg belong to the s-block and all the rest to the p-block.
In this activity, you will compare physical properties of various Period 3 elements. You will also
compare their reactions with air and water, in order to show the differences in their chemical properties as you
move along the period. You will also study and compare the properties of some of their oxides and chlorides.
Moreover, you shall be relating the reactions of these elements and their oxides and chloride to how they were
arranged in the periodic table, their preferred intermolecular forces of attraction as well as their oxidation states.
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PROCEDURES
Materials:
Bromothymol blue, 10% H2O2, MnO2 (solid), Mg metal/ribbon, Aluminum foil, Sulfur ( s), Elemental
Phosphorus (s), MgO (s), Al2O3 (s), Silica gel or SiO2 (s), NaCl (s), MgCl2 (s),
Hot plate, alcohol lamp, beakers, watch glass, crucible tongs, test tubes in a rack, test tube holders,
thermometer, droppers, deflagrating spoon

Procedure:

CAUTION

Many of the metals in this experiment react vigorously with O2 and water; thus, are corrosive
and harmful. Therefore students must:
Do Part B of the experiment at the fume hood.
Wear safety protection gear like laboratory gown and eye goggles.
Avoid contact with skin.
Keep stoppers on bottles as much as possible

Part A: Appearance
1. Examine the samples. Describe their appearance.
2. Note their color and other notable characteristics.
3. Record your observations on Table 1 of your laboratory report.

Part B: Reactions with air

1. Set up six watch glasses or a spot plate.
2. Place a small size of sodium, magnesium and aluminium metals to the first 3 watch glasses or spot
plate wells. Into the other three, add a pinch of silicon, phosphorous and sulphur.
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 3. At the same time, expose the samples in an open air.
4. Note the time when observable reactions occur in each sample. If no reaction was observed, write NO
REACTION.

Part B (Alternative): Reactions with O2 (Demonstration)

1. Light an alcohol lamp.
2. Cut a small piece of Mg Ribbon and hold it firmly with crucible tongs.
3. Carefully bring the metal to the hottest part (tip) of an alcohol lamp flame.
4. Note how the metal reacts to O2 upon contact with the flame. Note any change in the appearance and
color of the product. Reserve the product for Part D. Record your observations on Table 2 of your
laboratory report.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 with Al, and elemental Si. Compare the reaction of each sample relative to that of
Mg and of the other elements.
4. Into a 100- or 150-mL Florence flask, place 20 mL of 10% H2O2. Get ready with a piece of foil to
cover the flask. Carefully add a very small amount (match stick head size) of MnO2 to the H2O2 to help
the peroxide decompose. Cover the flask immediately to trap the gaseous product. (Ponder on this:
What gas must have been produced). Wait until the fizzing stops.
6. Using a deflagrating spoon, get a small amount of sulfur and heat it over a flame. While hot, bring the
sulfur into the flask above but not touching the decomposed H2O2. Note how the element reacts upon
contact with the gas. Note any change in the appearance and color of the product (if any). Repeat this
for phosphorus. Record these on Table 2 of your laboratory report.

Part C: Solubility and reaction with water

1. Set up six test tubes (50 mL). Into each, pour about 5 mL of distilled water.
2. In the first test tube, add 2-3 drops of bromothymol blue indicator. Note the color of the solution.
Consider this the color of the indicator in a neutral solution (pH = 7).
3. In the second test tube, place a thermometer. Note the temperature.
4. Add 2-3 drops of bromothymol blue indicator.
5. Add about 0.20 g of Mg metal, initially cut into small sizes (1-2 mm2) into the test tube.
6. Note (a) the time when an observable reaction begins, (2) the final temperature of the reaction, (c) the
change in color of the bromothymol blue indicator, and (4) other observations (like formation of gas), if
any. Record these on Table 3 of your laboratory report.
7. If no reaction occurs after 10 minutes, gently heat the test tubes in a boiling water bath.
8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 using Al, Si, P and S.

Part D: Solubility and reaction with water of Period 3 oxides and chlorides
Repeat Part C steps but instead of using the pure metals, use the oxides produced in Part B for MgO
and Al2O3. Use SiO2 or silica gel for Si. For phosphorus and sulfur, suction some gas from those
produced in part B and release it into their designated test tubes. Also do the same procedures using
NaCl and MgCl2. Record all results in Table 4 of the laboratory report.

Waste Disposal:
A. Pour all test solutions into an inorganic waste container.
B. Solid wastes must be thrown in the designated trash can.

Complete the Data and Results Sheet and answer all Post-Laboratory Questions that follow.

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 Experiment 11 in Chemistry 3
Investigating Some Properties of the 3rd Period Elements
LABORATORY REPORT

Group Member Names and Sections: Date of Experiment: _____________

_______________________________________________ Date of Submission of
_______________________________________________ Laboratory Report: ____________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ Score for Lab. Report:

Table 1. Detailed Appearance

Element Mg ribbon Al foil P from a matchbox S (s)

Appearance

Table 2. Reaction with air or O2

Detailed Observations
Sample Balanced Reaction
(including products formed)
Mg ribbon

Al foil

P from a
matchbox

S (s)

Table 3. Reactions with water

Time that Temperature Color change in the
elapsed when an (oC) Other notable
Sample bromothymol blue
initial change is observations
Initial Final indicator
observed
Mg ribbon

Al foil

P from a
matchbox

S (s)

Balanced Reactions of elements with water:

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Table 4. Reactions of some period 3 oxides and chlorides with water
Time that Temperature Color change
elapsed when (oC)
Solubility in in the Other notable
Sample an initial
Water bromothymol observations
change is Initial Final blue indicator
observed
MgO

Al2O3

SiO2
P4O10
from B
SO2 and SO3
from B
NaCl

MgCl2

Balanced Reactions of the element oxides and chlorides with water:

Post-laboratory Questions:
Answer the following post-laboratory questions on another sheet of bond paper. You will need to use references.
Base your answers on the experiment observations.

1) Generalize about the appearance of the elements observed relative to their type (metals and
non-metals). Relate these observations to their known chemical structure or bonding nature.
2) Compare the reactivity (based on reaction rate or vigorousness of reaction) of the element
samples with air or oxygen and relate this to variations in electronic structure and their known
chemical structure or bonding nature.
3) Compare and contrast the reactivity of the element samples with water based on (a) time of
reaction, (b) temperature change and pH change (bromothymol blue indicator change).
4) Relate the reactivity of the element samples with water to variations in electronic structure
and their known chemical structure or bonding nature.
5) Compare and contrast the reactivity of the element oxide and chloride samples with water
based on (a) solubility (b) time of reaction, (c) temperature change and pH change
(bromothymol blue indicator change).
6) How do the solubility (in water) and acid-base properties of oxides and chloride salts of the
same element differ? Relate this to the nature of bonding/molecular structure and interaction of
the compounds.
7) How does the acid-base nature of the oxides of the elements in Period 3 change with increasing
atomic number? Relate this change to the change in structure and bonding that takes place along
the Period.

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