EXPERIMENT 5

DISSIMILARITY BETWEEN IONIC AND COVALENT COMPOUNDS

INTRODUCTION

Covalent compounds have bonds where electrons are shared between atoms. Due to the sharing
of electrons and do not have charged particles capable of transporting electrons, they exhibit
lower electrical conductivity compared to ionic compounds. However, covalent compounds that
chemically react with water to produce ions (for example, acid and base) are able to conduct
electricity and known as electrolytes as well.
Solid ionic compounds do not conduct electricity because there are no free mobile ions or
electrons. However, when ionic salts dissolve in water, the individual ions separate. These
positively and negatively charged particles in the water medium are mobile and can move from
one part of a solution to another. Because of this movement, solutions of ions can conduct
electricity and known as electrolytes. These subtances also capable of conducting an electric
current in the molten state.

Precipitation refers to a chemical reaction that occurs in aqueous solution when two ions bond
together to form an insoluble salt, which is known as precipitate. The following is a common
laboratory example of a precipitation reaction. Aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) is added to a
solution containing potassium chloride (KCl), and the precipitation of a white solid, silver
chloride (AgCl) is observed:
AgNO3 (aq) + KCl (aq) AgCl (s) + KNO3 (aq)

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this experiment, we should be able to

1. Differentiate the precipitation process and electric conductivity between ionic and
covalent compound
2. Identify type of compound as ionic or covalent compounds.
CHEMICALS AND APPARATUS

Sodium chloride, NaCl solution

Sodium chloride, NaCl solid
Bromoethane, C2H5Br
Benzene, C6H6 liquid
Silver nitrate, AgNO3
Sodium hydroxide, NaOH solution
Hydrochloric acid, HCl solution
Ammonium, NH4OH solution
Copper , Cu electrode
Test tube
Graduated cylinder
Beaker (150 ml)
Battery
Wire
Bulb

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

*Flow chart

RESULTS

Part A Precipitation

Electrolyte Reaction observation Precipitation time

NaCl solution
(test tube A)
C2H5Br liquid
(test tube B)
C6H6 liquid
(test tube C)

Part B Electric conductivity

Reaction observation High/low Type of

Electrolyte conductivity/non- compound
conductivity
Cu cathode Brightness of Colour of
light bulb solution/liquid

HCl solution

NH4OH
solution

C6H6 liquid

NaOH
solution

NaCl
solution

NaCl solid
DISCUSSION

QUESTIONS

1. Is precipitation chemical or physical change?

Precipitation is a chemical change precipitate is an insoluble solid that forms when two
solutions are combined and react chemically

2. How do you know if a precipitation reaction will occur?

Precipitation reaction will occur when cations and anions in aqueous solution combine to
form an insoluble ionic solid called precipitate.

3. Chemically, what explanation for the good and fair conductivity readings? (Which types
of bonds cause these results?)
The easiest way to determine whether a compound can conduct a current is to identify its
molecular structure or composition. Compounds with strong conductivity dissociate
completely into charged atoms or molecules, or ions, when dissolved in water. These ions
can move and carry a current effectively. The higher the concentration of ions, the greater
the conductivity. Meanwhile , compounds that dissociate only partially in water are weak
electrolytes and poor conductors of an electric current
Ionic compound are the good conductors of electricity because these compounds contain
free floating ion which can dissociate when dissolved in water. Therefore, they can
transfer electricity.
Covalent compound do not dissociate when dissolved. Because no ions are produced,
they are no change particles to move the electricity through.
 4. Why are most solid ionic compounds electrically non-conductive, whereas aqueous
solutions of ionic compounds are good conductors? Would you expect a liquid (molten)
ionic compound to be electrically conductive or non-conductive? Explain.
Solid ionic compounds do not have electrical conductivity because the ions are not free to
move. In a liquid, the ionic compound dissociates into its respective ions. When we heat
an ionic compound to its melting point, the heat energy actually breaks the electrostatic
forces between the ions, loosening the structure into something more like a liquid, the
positive ions can move to the negative terminal, and the negative ions are free to move to
the positive terminal, as depicted immediately above.

CONCLUSION

In a conclusion, by run this experiment we know that all ionic compounds can conduct electric in
the liquid state but can’t conduct electric in the solid state. We also can conclude that covalent
compound can’t conduct electric either in the liquid and solid state.

REFERENCE

1. Muhammad Faris (2019). DISSIMILIRITY BETWEEN ELECTROVALENT ANDCOVALENT

BOND. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/document/20300583/EXPERIMENT-6-Dissimilarity-between-
LECTROVALENT-AND-COVALENT-BOND
2. Marie-Luise Blue (2018). How to Determine Conductivity in Compounds. Retrieved from
https://sciencing.com/determine-conductivity-compounds-6069343.html