3.

05 -- Molecular Structure Lab Report: Determining Polarity

Title: Why don’t some compounds mix?

Objective(s): Combining multiple compounds to find their polarity and comparing

their solubility to determine why some compounds don’t mix.

Hypothesis:

I hypothesize that polar and ionic compounds will mix, but nonpolar with polar or ionic
won’t mix. I also hypothesize that the solubility will be a big factor on whether or not one
is polar, ionic, and/or non-polar.

Procedures:

This lab already includes materials and a summary of steps to follow. List and explain
your controlled variables, independent variable, and dependent variable for this lab.

Materials
• deionized (distilled) water
• rubbing alcohol
• vegetable oil
• iodine solution
• sodium chloride (salt)
• acetic acid (vinegar)
• test tubes or clear plastic cups
• tablespoon and teaspoon
• stirring sticks
• permanent marker for labeling
Safety

● Always wear eye protection and use gloves when handling chemicals in a
laboratory area.
● Students should wash their hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory area.
● Dispose of any chemicals by washing used test tubes with soap and water or
washing used cups then throwing them away in a trash bin.

Variables:

Remember, controlled variables are factors that remain the same throughout the
experiment. An independent (test) variable changes so that the experimenter can see
the effect on other variables. The dependent (outcome) variable will change in response
to the test variable.

Controlled Variables Stirring sticks, permanent marker for labeling, test

tubes or clear plastic cups, the sizing of a teaspoon
and tablespoon ( not how many times it is used in
one experiment)

Independent Variable Amount of water, rubbing alcohol, vegetable oil,

iodine solution, salt, and/or vinegar used and mixed
together.

Dependent Variable The polarity, ability to mix, and solubility.

Summary of Steps:

1. Using the steps for predicting the polarity of compounds, determine the polarity of
water (H2O). Place your answers in table 1. Once you have successfully predicted the
polarity of water, you will be able to determine the polarity of the other compounds using
steps two through five of the experiment.

2. Put about 2 tablespoons of deionized water into each of two labeled test tubes or
clear cups. Add about 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to one cup and 2 tablespoons of
iodine solution to the other. Mix the contents with a stirring stick. In table 2, indicate
whether the solutes (vinegar and iodine solution) are soluble in the solvent (water).
Then conclude whether each compound is polar, nonpolar, or ionic. (Hint: Like
substances dissolve like substances, and polar solvents dissolve ionic compounds.)

3. Put about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil into each of two labeled test tubes or
clear cups. Add about 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to one cup and 1 teaspoon of
salt to the other. Mix the contents with a stirring stick. In table 2, indicate whether the
solutes (rubbing alcohol and salt) are soluble in the solvent (vegetable oil). Then
conclude whether each compound is polar, nonpolar, or ionic.

4. Put about 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol into each of two labeled test tubes or
clear cups. Add about 2 tablespoons of water to one cup and 2 tablespoons of vinegar
to the other. Mix the contents with a stirring stick. In table 2, indicate whether the solutes
(water and vinegar) are soluble in the solvent (rubbing alcohol). Then conclude whether
each compound is polar, nonpolar, or ionic.

5. Put about 2 tablespoons of vinegar into each of two labeled test tubes or clear
cups. Add about 2 tablespoons of iodine solution to one cup and 2 tablespoons of
vegetable oil to the other. Mix the contents with a stirring stick. In table 2, indicate
whether the solutes (iodine solution and vegetable oil) are soluble in the solvent
(vinegar). Then conclude whether each compound is polar, nonpolar, or ionic.

Data and Analysis:

Table 1:

Reference the VSEPR geometry chart and the electronegativity chart from the lesson to
fill in the table below.

Help with VSEPR sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIuXl7o6mAw

Help with VSEPR molecular shape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Moj85zwdULg

Compo Lewis Difference VSEPR Polar, VSEPR Molec

und Structure in sketch nonpol molecule ular
electronega ar, or shape Struct
tivity of ionic? ure
each bond

H2O Polar Tetrahedral Bent

H -- O --
O
3.44- 2.20= 1 H
H 0

H 1.24
9
.
5
Table 2:

(Hint: Like substances dissolve like substances, and polar solvents dissolve ionic
compounds.)

Solute Solvent Will substances Do I think the Do I think the

mix or not? solute is polar, solvent is
nonpolar, or polar,
ionic? nonpolar, or
ionic?

Vinegar Water Yes polar polar

Iodine Water Yes ionic polar

Solution

Rubbing Vegetable Oil No polar non-polar

Alcohol

Salt Vegetable Oil No ionic non-polar

Water Rubbing Yes polar polar

Alcohol

Vinegar Rubbing Yes polar polar

Alcohol

Iodine Vinegar Yes Ionic polar

Solution

Vegetable Oil Vinegar No non-polar polar

Conclusion
Write a conclusion statement that addresses the following questions:

I concluded from this experiment that solubility allows you to predict the polarity of the
elements which answers the question, why don’t some compounds mix. I determined
the polarity of H2O by subtracting the electronegativities. Most of my predictions were
right, I also believe my hypothesis was right, for the majority of it. The investigation can be
further explored by finding the electronegativity of all the compounds to determine its polarity.

Post-Lab Reflection Questions

Answer the reflection questions using what you have learned from the lesson and your
experimental data. It will be helpful to refer to your chemistry journal notes. Answer
questions in complete sentences.

1. Were any of your substances difficult to identify as polar, nonpolar, or ionic?

Explain.

Yes, some of the substances were difficult to identify as polar, non-polar, or ionic. This
is because some of the substances being mixed were clear and it was hard to
determine if they were mixed or not, other times it was hard to determine because the
shadow in the back would identify another answer than the one I concluded from the
videos of the experiments of the different solutions.

2. How do models help scientists predict the polarity of molecules?

Models can come in various ways. Usage of technology, hands-on, etc. They help
scientists get a better picture on what they are working with, lets them use multiple
experiment numbers and expressions, they get to see compounds work together, and
this allows them to predict the polarity of molecules by doing that.