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Lab Comp. Ionic & Mol. Solids

The document compares ionic and molecular solids, focusing on the differences in their bonding and physical properties. It outlines the purposes of a lab experiment designed to explore these differences through various tests, including observations of odour, hardness, melting points, solubility, and electrical conductivity. The document also includes pre-lab questions, materials needed, a detailed procedure for conducting the experiment, and discussion questions for analysis.

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ocawards0823
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22 views3 pages

Lab Comp. Ionic & Mol. Solids

The document compares ionic and molecular solids, focusing on the differences in their bonding and physical properties. It outlines the purposes of a lab experiment designed to explore these differences through various tests, including observations of odour, hardness, melting points, solubility, and electrical conductivity. The document also includes pre-lab questions, materials needed, a detailed procedure for conducting the experiment, and discussion questions for analysis.

Uploaded by

ocawards0823
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A COMPARISON OF IONIC AND MOLECULAR SOLIDS

INTRODUCTION
In ionic solids, cations and anions are held together by electrostatic attractions that are non-
directional. In molecular solids, atoms in a molecule are held together by highly directional covalent
bonds. Covalent bonds are intramolecular (meaning within a molecule) forces.

The macroscopic physical properties of a substance are related to the intermolecular forces between
the particles in the substance. When testing a physical property, the strength of the forces between
molecules of a substance are put to the test. Physical properties such as melting and boiling points, the
presence or absence of odour, hardness, solubility, and electrical conductivity in aqueous solution can
help to determine if a solid is ionic or molecular. Chemical properties are based on intramolecular
bonds. In order for a chemical reaction to occur, molecules have to collide with sufficient speed
(energy) to break the bonds between atoms in a molecule and then new bonds must form in the
product molecules. The strength of intramolecular bonds depends on the bond energy between atoms
in a molecule. Intramolecular bonds in ionic and covalent compounds can be equally strong.
PURPOSES (copy into your lab notebook)

● To relate intermolecular forces between the particles of a substance to the physical properties
of ionic and covalent (molecular) substances.
● To identify the general characteristics of intermolecular forces in ionic and covalent compounds
and therefore the characteristics of the physical properties of ionic and covalent compounds.

PRE-LAB SAMPLE QUESTIONS


Please cut and paste these questions from the lab posted on the conference into your word processed
pre-lab. (2 marks each – 14 marks)

1. You collect the following data for four of your unknown samples. What conclusions can you
make about the substances 1, 2 and 4? (Note: this table is not as complete as the one in your
lab notebook should be) (I)
Unknown Physical Properties
Sample #
Odour Hardness Melting point Solubility in Electrical
cold water conductivity
of solution
1 None Very hard Melted after Slightly None
crystal heating for 30 soluble
s
2 Strong Gel-like Low (melted None None
immediately)
3 Slight Fluffy white Melted after Very slightly Very low
crystal 10s soluble conductivity
4 none Very hard Did not melt Very soluble Conducts
crystal electricity

2. Certain molecular solids will dissolve in water and other will not. What is the determining factor
in whether a molecular solid will dissolve in water? (I)
3. Why are most molecular/covalent compounds not good conductors of electricity, even if they
dissolve in water? (I)
4. You don’t follow the lab procedure correctly and try to measure the electrical conductivity of the
solid samples before dissolving them in water. Why will none of the solid samples exhibit
electrical conductivity? (I)
5. Would you expect a covalent substance to dissolve in water? Why or why not? (I)
6. Create a flowchart for this lab in your lab notebook.
7. Create an observation table for this lab in your lab notebook.
MATERIALS

6 unknown samples
methanol conductivity tester 250 mL beaker
2 test tubes 2 stoppers

PROCEDURE: COMPARING THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF IONIC AND COVALENT SOLIDS


You will be given 2 unknown samples to do the following steps. Make sure you collect the results for
the other 4 compounds from your classmates for your observation chart.
a. Prepare an observation table to record your data.
b. Smell each compound, making sure to waft. If you detect an odour assume that the compound
is volatile; if there is no odour, then assume the compound is nonvolatile. Record your
observations.
c. Test the hardness of each compound. Place a very small sample on a watch glass and gently
press it down and across the glass using a scoopula. Use such words as soft, waxy, brittle and
granular to record your results
d. You will be assigned 2 solids by your instructor, one is ionic, and the other is molecular. You will
be paired with 2 other groups who will be covering the other 4 samples. In your observations
you will be recording the results for all 6 compounds but only performing the tests on two
compounds. When you record your results indicate which students performed the tests.
e. Place a small sample of each of the two solids into a ceramic evaporating dish. Arrange them on
opposite sides of the evaporating dish and keep them separate from each other. Use a retort
stand and small iron ring to hold the dish. Arrange the desk fume hood close to the dish. Ideally
do this at the same time as at least another group.
f. Heat evenly with a hot plate until one or both have significantly melted (not burned). Use the
relative heating times to estimate the melting temperature of each as low, moderately high, or
very high compared to room temperature. Make sure you collect the results for the other 4
compounds from your classmates for your observation chart.
g. There will be hot water baths at the back of the room. You need to bring your test tube holder,
test tube clamp and samples to the back and place in the hot water baths using the test tube
clamp. Use this as a hot water bath in step i.
h. Place very small (the size of end of a scoopula), equal, samples of each of the solids in separate
test tubes and add about 3 cm of water. Stopper the test tubes and agitate gently and record
their relative solubility in water (ie soluble, slightly soluble, insoluble).
i. Place only the test tubes containing undissolved solid into the hot water bath for about two
minutes. Stopper, agitate, and again record relative solubilities. Remove the test tubes after
two minutes using the test tube clamp and return to your lab bench.
j. Obtain a conductivity tester from your teacher. Pour the solutions from steps h
and i into separate small (50 mL) beakers. Test the conductivity of each aqueous solution from
steps h and i . Hold the conductivity tester in the solution with the button pressed for 3-5
seconds. Clean the conductivity tester between tests.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Identify the samples in this lab as ionic or molecular. Provide reasoning for your classification
based on your lab results. (

2) Are the intermolecular bonds stronger in ionic or covalent compounds? Provide evidence for
your answer. (

3) From the data in this lab, can you make any conclusions about the intramolecular forces in ionic
and covalent compounds? Explain.

TOTAL

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