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Finding Unknown Substances Lab

The document describes an experiment where students examined known substances and their reactions to different liquids in order to determine the identity of unknown substances. They recorded physical and chemical properties of each known substance when reacted with water, acid-base indicator, vinegar, and iodine solution. Using deductive reasoning by comparing the reactions of the unknowns to the knowns, they were able to identify the two unknown substances as cornstarch for Substance B based on its dark brown color when reacted with iodine solution, and sodium bicarbonate for Substance D based on its blue-green color and smooth texture when reacted with acid-base indicator.

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598 views

Finding Unknown Substances Lab

The document describes an experiment where students examined known substances and their reactions to different liquids in order to determine the identity of unknown substances. They recorded physical and chemical properties of each known substance when reacted with water, acid-base indicator, vinegar, and iodine solution. Using deductive reasoning by comparing the reactions of the unknowns to the knowns, they were able to identify the two unknown substances as cornstarch for Substance B based on its dark brown color when reacted with iodine solution, and sodium bicarbonate for Substance D based on its blue-green color and smooth texture when reacted with acid-base indicator.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Lexi Grubbs, Kaitlyn Grubbs, Ella Beidler

Period 1
Identification of Unknown Substances Lab
In this lab, the goal was to examine known substances and their reactions to different
liquids. Based on the results from the lab, the challenge was to determine the identity of
unknown substances in comparison to the known substances.
Throughout the lab, we examined the substances and took physical and chemical
properties into account when trying to figure out what the unknown substances were. According
to chemistry.elmhurst.edu, "Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing
the composition of matter. Physical properties are used to observe and describe matter. Physical
properties include: appearance, texture, color, odor, melting point, boiling point, density,
solubility, polarity, and many others." The chemical property is "a property or characteristic of a
substance that is observed during a reaction in which the chemical composition or identity of the
substance is changed," as stated by dicitionary.com. We observed our substances' properties in
order to identify the unknown.

Procedure:
1. Record an observation for every solid prior to testing. Observations should be detailed
and specific. If two look alike, try to find difference so that it is easy to identify them
alone.
2. Place the solids into the well plate so that they may all be tested with the liquids.
3. Make a data table to record all of the results from combining the solids and liquid. The
observations written her should also be descriptive and specific following each test.
4. Using a pipette, drop a sample of each liquid into the solids. Each liquid should be tested
on each solid once unless an error was made; in that case, a retest on only that specific
solid and liquid is necessary. Record all observations into the data table.
5. Collect two unknown controlled solids, which could either be one or a combination of
some of the solids originally given. Make a detailed physical analysis of the two
unknowns.
6. To determine the unknown substances' identities, write a procedure. This should guide
you in the right direction towards identification.
a. Observe the physical properties of the unknowns. Is this similar to any of the
other known substance?
b. Test all of the liquids to the unknowns. Record the results into the data table.
c. Compare the findings of the unknowns to that of the known ones. Do any of the
reactions have similar reactions?
7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 on the unknown solids. Remember that detail is important.
8. After testing all the liquids, use deductive reasoning based on the test process to properly
name the solids.
Observation of Known Substances
Substance Description
Cornstarch Powder, clumpy, white
C12H22O11 Grains, white
CaCO3 Powder, clumpy, white
NaCl Large grains, white
NaHCO3 Fluffy, white, some clumps

Substances and Their Observed Reactions to Liquids


Water Acid-Base Vinegar Iodine Solution
Indicator
Cornstarch Absorbed Turns Milky, gooey Substance
water, water substance hardens
didn't spread, pink, completely
dissolved the substance
cornstarch hardens
EMPTY ROW
NaCl Water spread, Grainy, Grainy liquid Becomes
substance clumpy, dark with some clumpier, now
became blue-grey bubbles is a golden
clumpy, brown color
substance
sticks
scoopula
CaCO3 Water melted Becomes Foamed a lot, Smooth, looks
it, substance smoother, still everything similar to
became gooey has clumps, dissolved peanut butter
turns light completely
blue
C12H22O11 All solid Becomes dark Still grainy, A dark brown
dissolved, green, grainy, gooey, grey- liquid with
grainy and some liquid tinted grains present
grey throughout
NaHCO3 Sleek looking, Thickens, Foamed, Thick, orange
became sticky turquoise, watered down,
and has more looks similar still some
clumps, looks to a slushie grains present
like snow in liquid
Unknown Substances and Reactions to Liquids

Iodine Solution Acid-Base Water Vinegar


Indicator
Substance B Water spread Became a Soaked up, Dissolved,
and dissolved dark was white and little bubbles,
the substance, aquamarine, grainy was grainy
turned dark dissolved but and became
brown grainy grey
EMPTY ROW
Substance D Soaks in, Bounces off, Water sinks, Foaming,
becomes a thickens, soaks, bubbling, no
brown color becomes a thickness clumps
blue-green resembles
color, smooth Elmers glue,
white, smooth
Conclusion:
Based on the data drawn up through the testing, the conclusions are appropriate for the
question being asked: How can one identify solids using their chemical properties? The two new
solutions, which have been identified as

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