exp02.

qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 59

Chemistry I (CHE-111)

Experiment 2
Identification of
a Compound:
Jo A. Beran/Trey Hernandez

Chemical Properties
A potassium chromate solution added to a silver nitrate solution results in the formation
of insoluble silver chromate.

• To identify a compound on the basis of its chemical properties Objectives

• To design a systematic procedure for determining the presence of a particular Chemical property: characteristic of a
compound in aqueous solution substance that is dependent on its
chemical environment

The following techniques are used in the Experimental Procedure: Techniques

Chemists, and scientists in general, develop and design experiments in an attempt to Introduction
understand, explain, and predict various chemical phenomena. Carefully controlled
(laboratory) conditions are needed to minimize the many parameters that affect the
observations. Chemists organize and categorize their data and then systematically
analyze the data to reach some conclusion; often, the conclusion may be to carefully
plan more experiments!
It is presumptuous to believe that a chemist must know the result of an experi-
ment before it is ever attempted; most often, an experiment is designed to determine
the presence or absence of a substance or to determine or measure a parameter. Substance: a pure element or
A goal of the environmental or synthesis research chemist is, for example, to separate compound having a unique set of
chemical and physical properties
the substances of a reaction mixture (one generated in the laboratory or one found in
nature) and then identify each substance through a systematic, or sometimes trial- Trial-and-error study: a method that is
and-error, study of their chemical and physical properties. often used to seek a pattern in the
accumulated data

In this experiment, you will observe chemical reactions that are characteristic of
various compounds under controlled conditions. After collecting and organizing your
data, you will be given an unknown compound, one that you have previously investi-
gated. The interpretations of the collected data will assist you in identifying your
unknown compound.
What observations will you be looking for? Chemical changes are generally
accompanied by one or more of the following:
• A gas is evolved. This evolution may be quite rapid, or it may be a “fizzing”
sound (Figure 2.1, page 60).

Experiment 2 59
exp02.qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 60

Chemistry I (CHE-111)
• A precipitate appears (or disappears). The nature of the precipitate is important.
It may be crystalline, it may have color, or it may merely cloud the solution.
• Heat may be evolved or absorbed. The reaction vessel becomes warm if the
reaction is exothermic or cools if the reaction is endothermic.
• A color change occurs. A substance added to the system may cause a color
change.
• A change in odor is detected. The odor of a substance may appear, disappear,
Jo A. Beran/Trey Hernandez

or become more intense during the course of a chemical reaction.

The chemical properties of the following compounds, dissolved in water, are
investigated in Part A of this experiment:
Sodium chloride NaCl(aq)
Sodium carbonate Na2CO3(aq)
Magnesium sulfate MgSO4(aq)
Figure 2.1 A reaction mixture
Ammonium chloride NH4Cl(aq)
of NaHCO3(aq) and HCl(aq) Water H2O(l)
produces CO2 gas The following test reagents are used to identify and characterize these compounds:
Silver nitrate AgNO3(aq)
Sodium hydroxide NaOH(aq)
Hydrochloric acid HCl(aq)
Reagent: a solid chemical or a In Part B of this experiment, the chemical properties of five compounds in aqueous
solution having a known solutions, labeled 1 through 5, are investigated with three reagents labeled A, B, and C.
concentration of solute
Chemical tests will be performed with these eight solutions. An unknown will then be
issued and matched with one of the solutions, labeled 1 through 5.

Experimental Procedure Overview: In Part A, a series of tests for the chemical properties of
Procedure known compounds in aqueous solutions are conducted. A similar series of tests are
conducted on an unknown set of compounds in Part B. In each case, an unknown com-
pound is identified on the basis of the chemical properties observed.
You should discuss and interpret your observations on the known chemical
tests with a partner, but each of you should analyze your own unknown compound. At
each circled superscript 1–7 in the procedure, stop and record your observation on the
Report Sheet.
To organize your work, you will conduct a test on each known compound
for the five aqueous solutions and the unknown compound with a single test reagent.
Andy Washnik

The Report Sheet provides a “reaction matrix” for you to describe your observations.
Because the space is limited, you may want to devise codes such as the following:
• pc—precipitate + color • g—gas, no odor
• cc—cloudy + color • go—gas, odor
A mix of AgNO3 and NaCl solutions
• nr—no reaction
produce a white AgCl precipitate.

A. Chemical Properties of 1. Observations with silver nitrate test reagent

Known Compounds
a. Use a permanent marker to label five small, clean test tubes (Figure 2.2a) or
set up a clean 24-well plate (Figure 2.2b). Ask your instructor which setup
you should use. Place ~1 mL of each of the five “known” solutions into the la-
beled test tubes (or wells A1–A5).
b. Use a dropper pipet (or a dropper bottle) to deliver the silver nitrate solution to each
of the known solutions. (Caution: AgNO3 forms black stains on the skin. The stain,
caused by silver metal, causes no harm.) If after adding several drops you observe
a chemical change, then add 5–10 drops to see if there are additional changes.
Record your observations in the matrix on the Report Sheet. 1 Save your test

60 Identification of a Compound: Chemical Properties

exp02.qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 61

Chemistry I (CHE-111)

Figure 2.2b Arrangement of test solutions in the 24-well plate for testing salts

Figure 2.2a Arrangement of test

tubes for testing with the silver
nitrate reagent

solutions for Part A.4. Write the formula for each precipitate that forms. Ask your
lab instructor for assistance. For example, a mixture of NaCl(aq) and AgNO3(aq) Appendix E
produces AgCl(s) as a precipitate. The insolubility of AgCl is noted in Appendix E.
2. Observations with sodium hydroxide test reagent
a. Use a permanent marker to label five additional small, clean test tubes
(Figure 2.3). Place ~1 mL of each of the five “known” solutions into this sec-
ond set of labeled test tubes (or wells B1–B5, Figure 2.2b).
b. To each of these solutions, slowly add 5–10 drops of the sodium hydroxide solu-
tion; make observations as you add the solution. Check to see if a gas evolves in
any of the tests. Check for odor. What is the nature of any precipitates that form?
Observe closely. 2 Save your test solutions for reference in Part A.4. Write the
formula for each of the precipitates that formed. Appendix E
3. Observations with hydrochloric acid test reagent
a. Use a permanent marker to label five additional small, clean test tubes
(Figure 2.4). Place ~1 mL of each of the five “known” solutions into this third
set of labeled test tubes (or wells C1–C5, Figure 2.2b).
b. Slowly add 5–10 drops of the hydrochloric test reagent to the solutions and
record your observations. Check to see if any gas is evolved. Check for odor.
Observe closely. 3 Save your test solutions for reference in Part A.4. Write the
formula for any compound that forms.

Figure 2.3 Arrangement of test Figure 2.4 Arrangement of test

tubes for testing with the sodium tubes for testing with the hydrochloric
hydroxide reagent acid reagent

Experiment 2 61
exp02.qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 62

Chemistry I (CHE-111)
4. Identification of unknown. Obtain an unknown for Part A from your laboratory
instructor. Repeat the three tests with the reagents in Parts A.1, 2, and 3 on your
unknown. On the basis of the data from the “known” solutions (collected and sum-
marized in the Report Sheet matrix) and that of your unknown solution, identify
the compound in your unknown solution.4

Disposal: Discard the test solutions in the Waste Salts container.

CLEANUP: Rinse the test tubes or well plate twice with tap water and twice with
deionized water. Discard each rinse in the Waste Salts container.

B. Chemical Properties of The design of the experiment in Part B is similar to that of Part A. Therefore, 15 clean
Unknown Compounds test tubes or a clean 24-well plate is necessary.
1. Preparation of solutions. On the reagent shelf are five solutions labeled 1
through 5, each containing a different compound. Use small clean test tubes or the
well plate as your testing laboratory. About 1 mL of each test solution is necessary
for analysis.
2. Preparation of reagents. Also on the reagent shelf are three reagents labeled A,
B, and C. Use a dropper pipet (or dropper bottle) or a Beral pipet to deliver
reagents A through C to the solutions.
3. Testing the solutions
a. Test each of the five solutions with drops (and then excess drops) of reagent A.
If, after adding several drops, you observe a chemical change, add 5–10 drops
more to see if there are additional changes. Observe closely and describe any
evidence of chemical change; record your observations. 5
Ken Karp

b. With a fresh set of solutions 1–5 in clean test tubes (or wells), test each with
reagent B. 6 Repeat with reagent C. 7
A dropper pipet. 20 drops is 4. Identification of unknown. An unknown solution will be issued that is one of the
~1 mL of solution. five solutions from Part B.1. On the basis of the data in your reaction matrix and
the data you have collected, identify your unknown as one of the five solutions.

Disposal: Discard the test solutions in the Waste Salts container.

CLEANUP: Rinse the test tubes or well plate twice with tap water and twice with
deionized water. Discard each rinse in the Waste Salts container.

62 Identification of a Compound: Chemical Properties

exp02.qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 65

Chemistry I (CHE-111)

Experiment 2 Report Sheet

Identification of a Compound:
Chemical Properties
Date _____________ Lab Group________ Name _________________________________________________

A. Chemical Properties of Known Compounds

Indicate your observations in the reaction matrix. Attach a Key of the codes entered below.
Test NaCl(aq) Na2CO3(aq) MgSO4(aq) NH4Cl(aq) H2O(l) Unknown

1
AgNO3(aq) _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

2
NaOH(aq) _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

3
HCl(aq) _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Write formulas for the precipitates that formed in Part A.

Part A.1 _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Part A.2 _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Part A.3 _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Sample no. of unknown for Part A.4 ______________________

4
Compound in unknown solution ______________________

B. Chemical Properties of Unknown Compounds

Indicate your observations in the reaction matrix.
Sample no. of unknown for Part B.4 ______________________
Solution No. 1 2 3 4 5 Unknown

5
Reagent A _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

6
Reagent B _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

7
Reagent C _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Compound of unknown is the same as Solution No. ______________________

Experiment 2 65

Adapted from Jo Beran's

Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry 10th Edition
exp02.qxd 11/15/13 9:27 AM Page 66

Chemistry I (CHE-111)
Laboratory Questions

1. Identify a chemical reagent used in this experiment that can be used to distinguish solid CaCl2 (soluble) from solid
CaCO3 (insoluble). What is the distinguishing observation?
2. What test reagent used in this experiment will distinguish a soluble Cl– salt from a soluble SO42– salt? What is the
distinguishing observation?
3. Predict what would be observed (and why) from an aqueous mixture for each of the following (all substances are water
soluble).
a. potassium carbonate and hydrochloric acid
b. zinc chloride and silver nitrate
c. magnesium chloride and sodium hydroxide
d. ammonium nitrate and sodium hydroxide
4. Three colorless solutions in test tubes, with no labels, are in a test tube rack on the laboratory bench. Lying beside the
tests tubes are three labels: 0.10 M Na2CO3, 0.10 M HCl, and 0.10 M KOH. You are to place the labels on the test
tubes using only the three solutions present. Here are your tests:
• A few drops of the solution from test tube 1 added to a similar volume of the solution in test tube 2 produces no vis-
ible reaction but the solution becomes warm.
• A few drops of the solution from test tube 1 added to a similar volume of the solution in test tube 3 produces carbon
dioxide gas.
Identify the labels for test tubes 1, 2, and 3.
5. Three colorless solutions in test tubes, with no labels, are in a test tube rack on the laboratory bench. Lying beside the
test tubes are three labels: silver nitrate, AgNO3; hydrochloric acid, HCl; and sodium carbonate, Na2CO3. You are to
place the labels on the test tubes using only the three solutions present. Here is your analysis procedure:
• A portion of test tube 1 added to a portion of test tube 2 produces carbon dioxide gas, CO2.
• A portion of test tube 2 added to a portion of test tube 3 produces a white silver carbonate precipitate.
a. On the basis of your observations how would you label the three test tubes?
b. What would you expect to happen if a portion of test tube 1 is added to a portion of test tube 3?
6. For individual solutions of the cations Ag+, Ba2+, Mg2+, and Cu2+, the following experimental observations were
collected:
NH3(aq) HCl(aq) H2SO4(aq)
Ag+ No change White ppta No change
Ba2+ No change No change White ppt
Mg2+ White ppt No change No change
Cu2+ Blue ppt/deep blue soln with excess No change No change
a
Example: When an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid is added to a solution containing Ag+, a white precipitate (ppt) forms.

From these experimental observations,

a. identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Ag+ and Mg2+. What is the distinguishing
observation?
b. identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of HCl and H2SO4. What is the distinguishing
observation?
c. identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Ba2+ and Cu2+. What is the distinguishing observa-
tion?
*d. identify a reagent that distinguishes the chemical properties of Cu2+ and Mg2+. What is the distinguishing obser-
vation?

66 Identification of a Compound: Chemical Properties