Jose Chanchavac

Chem. Per. 7
12/13/15
Testing the Properties of Ionic and Covalent Substances
Introduction
The purpose of this lab was to test and examine certain properties, specifically the
melting point and solubility, of sugar, salt, and candle wax in order to determine whether
they are ionic, polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent compounds. Background information
that is important for this lab is the definition of these terms. Ionic compounds form
between metals and nonmetals when electrons are transferred. They form between
anions (negatively charged ions) and cations (positively charged ions). Ions form when
atoms lose electrons to become negatively charged and gain electrons to become
positively charged. Atoms can share electrons when their orbitals overlap to form single,
double, or triple bonds. Generally, ionic compounds have higher melting points than
covalent ones and dissolve in polar covalent solvents such as water. Covalent bonds form
between nonmetals to form molecules that can exist as solids, liquids, or gases. They
can be polar or nonpolar depending on their shape and the distribution of charge. Polar
covalent compounds have a higher melting point than non polar covalent ones. Polar
covalent molecules dissolve in polar solvents while nonpolar molecules only dissolve in
nonpolar solvents Melting is the process of heating a solid until it turns to liquid.
Dissolving is the process of mixing a solution or substance in liquid to be thoroughly
mixed. If the length of time a substance and its ability to dissolve in a liquid is related to
the type of compound it is, then the compound that takes the longest to melt and is
soluble in water will be an ionic compound, while the fastest melting one that isnt
soluble in water will be a nonpolar covalent compound.
Materials and Methods
The materials used for this lab were salt, sugar, candle wax, aluminum foil,
water,three 100 mL beakers, a stirring rod, a spatula, and a pair of tongs. The procedure
was as follows: First, three small pieces of aluminum foil were cut and folded into small
plates. Then, about one or two spatula-sized amount of each substance were placed in
each aluminum plate. Afterwards, all of the plates were placed on the hot plate and
heated up on high. The order in which they melted was recorded. This is how the
melting point of each substance was tested.
The solubility of each compound was tested next. First, we washed three 100 mL
beakers and filled them water. Then, a small, spatula-sized sample of each substance
was placed in the beakers. They were stirred with the rod for about 15-20 seconds. The
results were then recorded to see which of the the substances dissolved.
Results and Data Analysis

Name of
Compound

Order of Melting

Soluble in Water?

Soluble in
Hexane?*

Sugar

2nd

Yes

No

Salt

3rd

Yes

No

Wax

1st

No

Yes

*Note: Answers were already given; the substances were not tested in hexane.*
The results of the lab are as follows: The candle wax was the first of the three
substances to melt. It was also the only that didnt dissolve in the water but did in
hexane. The sugar was the second one to melt and was soluble in water but not in
hexane. Salt was the last to melt and, just like sugar,was able to dissolve in water but
not in hexane.
Conclusion
I predicted that if the length of time a substance and its ability to dissolve in a
liquid is related to the type of compound it is, then the compound that takes the longest
to melt and is soluble in water will be an ionic compound, while the fastest melting one
that isnt soluble in water will be a nonpolar covalent compound. I accept my hypothesis
due to the evidence above. Salt, which was the last one to melt and was soluble in
water, is in fact, the ionic compound. Candle wax was the first one to melt and was the
only that was insoluble in water but soluble in hexane. This means that it is the non
polar covalent compound. Sugar was the second to melt and was soluble in water. This
means that it is the polar covalent compound. Potential sources of error included
accidentally confusing the sugar and salt. That was the biggest potential error that
actually happened, but was thankfully resolved. A future experiment would involve
testing the conductivity as was originally planned. It would use metal electrodes to test
the conductivity of each of the melted compounds. Another really exciting test would be
breaking the bonds of at least one of each compound. Ionic compounds have the
strongest bonds, so they would require the most amount of force to break.

Lab Report Rubric

(include this page in your lab report for Mr. Truong to grade)
Objectives

Introduction

Materials and
Methods

Results

Conclusion

Grammar

Total: _________ / 20

Purpose statement
All required
background info covered
If/then hypothesis
Identifies 2
variables
Makes reasonable
prediction
Paragraph form
Written in passive
tense
Describes all
materials and methods
used
Paragraph form
Written in 3rd
person
Describes all
quantitative data
Describes all
qualitative data
Includes a
graph/chart
Does not include
any conclusions
Evaluates all
hypotheses as being
supported or being
unsupported in sentence
form
Error analysis and
unexpected results
explained
New experiment
suggested
Uses correct
grammar

All
objectives Missing 1-2
are met or objectives
surpassed

Missing 3-4
objectives

Missing more
than 4
objectives

All
objectives
are met or
surpassed

Missing 1
objectives

Missing 2
objectives

Missing more
than 2
objectives

All
objectives
are met or
surpassed

Missing 1
objectives

Missing 2
objectives

Missing more
than 2
objectives

All
objectives
are met or
surpassed

Missing 1
objective

Missing 2
objectives or
missing
evaluation of
hypothesis

Missing more
than 2
objectives

1-2 major
grammar
mistakes

3 major
grammar
mistakes

4 major
grammar
mistakes

More than 5
major grammar
mistakes

Score