Ionic and Covalent Lab

Nadean Talley Ms. Enrich Chemistry Honors December 13, 2011 Purpose of Lab:

The purpose of this lab is to distinguish the unknown elements by determining which are ionic or covalent. By doing so, it can be determined which two medicines are safe to prescribe to the patient. Procedure:
1. 2.

Put a small amount of the unknown compound into two glass tubes. Using the Bunsen burner determine whether the compound has a low or high melting point.
a. b. c.

Hold the test tube over a low flame for no more than ten seconds. If it melts at all, it has a low melting point. Place the glass tube used to conduct the test separate of the others for disposal.

3. 4. 5. 6.

In a new test tube place a small amount of the same unknown compound Fill the tube most of the way with water. Cover the test tube with parafilm and shake to determine whether it dissolves. Using the same solution, conduct the Electricity Test using the 6 volt battery and 4 volt light bulb.
a.

To make sure the wires dont touch place the first all the way to bottom of the tube and the second part of the way.

b. 7. 8. 9.

The light should lighten a little, or bubbles should produce.

Wipe off the wires with a paper towel. Use record data to identify the element as ionic or covalent. Repeat for each unknown compound.

Materials: -8 test tubes

-1 Bunsen burner -1 pair of Tongs -1 Striker -Water -Parafilm -4 Unknown compounds -6 volt battery -4 volt light bulb -Spatula Data/Results: Test 2: Dissolve in Water (Yes or No) Yes [Ionic] No [Covalent] Yes [Ionic] No [Covalent] Test 3: Conduct Electricity (Yes or No) Yes [Ionic] No [Covalent] No [Covalent] Yes [Ionic]

Compound # 1 2 3 4

Test 1: Melting Point (High or Low) High [Ionic] Low [Covalent] Low [Covalent] High [Ionic]

Conclusion and Discussion:

In this lab, three tests were performed on each compoud to determine if each was either ionic or convalent. The three factors tested were the melting points, whether they dissolved in water, and whether they conducted electricity. These tests were carried out with the help of a bunsen burner, a 6 volt battery and a 4 volt light bulb. The test allow for easy identification of the unknown elements to determine whether they are safe or not for the patient. Two compouds were found to be ionic and two covalent. Compoud one was determined to be ionic because it met all three qualifications in terms of melting point, dissolving in water and conduction of electricity. It did not melt, meaning its melting point was high because of a crystalline structure, it dissolved in water or ionized and it conducted electricity due to ionizing. Compoud four was also identified as ionic. It did not melt and also conduct electrcity. However, it did not dissolve in water, but could be determined as ionic because it met two out of three of the qualifications. Compounds two and three were determined to be covalent. Both melting in the Bunsen burner meaning they both had low melting points and neither conducted electricity. However, compound three did dissolve in water. Compounds two and three would be safe to prescribe the patient because they both are covalent , therefore meaning it does not have a metal presence, such as salt. Ionic compounds would be dangerous to the patient because they do have metal presence and could cause clots. One possible error in the lab may be in test two on compound three. The element ionized in the water, however it did not conduct electricity which is not very plausible. There error may be that either the reading of the solution dissolved in the water was inaccurate or that the compoud actually did conduct electricity but it was too slight to be caught by the human eye. If this is the

case, giving the patient compoud three in any prescription could be more harmful than helpful to them tand may risk their life. To accurately distingish the difference between ionic and covalent compound using the three tests of melting point, whether it dissolved in water and conduction of electricity the results must be payed attention to very closely. Some things can slip the eye. There are difference in ionic and covalent bonds though, that make them obviously distinguishbale in most cases. One huge difference is that ionic compounds will always have a crystalline structure because of its metal presence meaning it will not melt at low temperatures such as with the Bunsen burner. Convalent compounds do not have this structure so they will melt at low temperatures. Whether it is ionic or covalent leads to the ability to dissolve in water. Covalent compounds will not because they do not ionize due to lack of proper structure. Also, since covalent compounds are not suppose to ionize, they should not conduct electricity. Ionic compounds however do ionize which means the electrons and protons are accessible and will conduct electricity. because they are free moving. There are exceptions sometimes though, which is why results are based on majority.