Experimentation is one scientific research method, perhaps the most recognizable, in a

spectrum of methods that also includes description, comparison, and modelling (Anthony Carpi et. as,
2008). Experimental work involves using the fundamental steps of a scientific process called scientific
method.

In the scientific method, after a scientist comes up with a theory based on an observation of
something in nature, she starts an experiment. Once the experiment is underway, it must be observed.
The observations can be qualitative or quantitative. The scientist records the observations of the
experiment and collects data. One form of data collection during the method is quantitative. This form
of observation during an experiment employs mathematical models and relies on the scientist to
collect information based on numbers (Francis, 2017).

Next, when a scientist performs an experiment that requires observations concerning the
quality of what has happened in an experiment, it is considered a qualitative observation or data.
Qualitative observations can be very important in experiments that require interpretation (Francis,
2017).

Besides, different types of matter can be distinguished through two components: composition
and properties. The composition of matter refers to the different components of matter along with
their relative proportions. The properties of matter refer to the qualities or attributes that distinguish
one sample of matter from another. A physical property is a characteristic of matter that is not
associated with a change in its chemical composition like density, color, hardness, melting and boiling
points, and electrical conductivity. A physical change is a change in the state or properties of matter
without any accompanying change in its chemical composition

In this experiment, chemical properties will be identified by observing the chemical changes
occurred during the experiment. A chemical property is the change of one type of matter into another
type (or the inability to change). To identify a chemical property, we look for a chemical change. A
chemical change always produces one or more types of matter that differ from the matter sspresent
before the change. Chemical changes involve one of these, evolution of gas, a formation of
precipitation, changes in colour and many more.

https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Process-of-Science/49/Experimentation-in-Scientific-
Research/150

https://sciencing.com/types-observation-scientific-method-8295233.html

https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/physical-and-chemical-properties/
In this experiment, several ‘known’ and ‘unknown’ solutions were tested with provided test reagent
and observations of the results were recorded in Table 1. The three test reagents being used are silver
nitrate, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.

Firstly, sodium chloride is a binary compound (consisting of two elements), a salt formed by
the alkaline NaOH and the strong acid HCl. NaCl have no color or smell, and so without conducting
qualitative reactions and tests, it is impossible to determine that sodium chloride is present in a solu-
tion. Practically all compounds with sodium and chloride ions are soluble. When NaCI are tested with
AgNO3, NaOH and HCI, the NaCI only react with AgNO3 solution. So, testing NaCI with AgNO3 is one
of the methods to determine the presence of a sodium ions in a solution. After the aqueous solution
of silver nitrate (AgNO3) is added to the aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl), a white
precipitate of silver chloride (AgCl) is formed that is indicated by the following chemical reaction.

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) Æ AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

The net ionic equation for AgCI is:

Next, for sodium carbonate solution, it only reacted with AgNO3 and shows a reaction
compared with the other two test reagents, NaOH and HCI. Silver nitrate and sodium carbonate both
are soluble in water react with each other to form silver carbonate that has a very low solubility, it
will precipitate as a white solid and sodium nitrate. The chemical reaction will be:

2 AgNO3(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → Ag2CO3(s) + 2 NaNO3(aq)

The net ionic equation of Ag2CO3 is:

2Ag+(s) + CO32–(aq) Ag2CO3(s)

Although magnesium sulphate remain unchanged after addition of AgNO3 or HCI, but it
turns cloudy after addition of NaOH test reagent. MgSO4 is highly soluble in water, and is also
extremely hygroscopic. Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) will react with Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) as a
double replacement reaction, where the cations, Na and Mg, will swap places. The reaction will end
up with Na2SO4 and Mg(OH)2. The balanced reaction will be:

2 NaOH + MgSO4 → Mg(OH)2 + Na2SO4

Magnesium oxide, Mg(OH)2 has poor solubility. As it cannot completely soluble in water, it
turns the solution into cloudy. The net ionic equation of Mg(OH)2 is:

Mg2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) -------> Mg(OH)2(s)

Ammonium chloride, NH4CI formed white precipitate when reacted with AgNO3 but remain
unchanged when NaOH or HCI test reagents were added to the test tube containing ammonium
chloride solution. Both ammonium chloride, NH4CI and silver nitrate, AgNO3 is soluble in water. So
they will react between them and produce a white precipitate. The reaction between NH4CI and
AgNO3 is called as double displacement method. Below indicates the chemical equation.

NH4CI + AgNO3 = AgCI + NH4NO3

The net ionic equation of AgCI is:

Ag+ (aq) + CI- (aq) = AgCI

Lastly, test reagents were tested with 4 unknown solutions to detect the name of unknown solutions
by referring the results with table 1. Solution 1 is MgSO4 as it react with AgNO3 and turns cloudy
while solution 2 is NaCI after white precipitate is formed when reacted with AgNO3. Solution 3 and
solution 4 are NH4CI and Na2CO3 as both formed white precipitate when reacted with AgNO3.
http://www.iun.edu/~cpanhd/C101webnotes/chemical%20reactions/netioniceq.html

http://chemistry-reference.com/q_compounds.asp?CAS=1309-42-8&language=en

http://www.softschools.com/formulas/chemistry/ammonium_chloride_formula/457/