Experiment 15 Identification of Chemical Compounds in Solution

30 September 2014
Procedure
1. Collect all known materials and follow proper safety instruction
2. Collect 9 unknown samples with the same Arabic set number, but with the different
roman numerals I IX
3. Place the 9 different pipets into each of the 9 unknown samples. This will prevent
cross contamination of chemicals
4. Take 6 litmus paper strips, 3 blue, and 3 red. Tear each of the strips into 3 parts.
5. Test each sample for pH level by using the litmus paper strips. If the blue litmus
paper turns red, then the solution is acidic. If the red litmus paper turns blue, then the
litmus paper is basic. If the litmus paper turns white, the sample you have used is
NaOH+Cl2, also known as bleach
6. After testing the pH, create a 9x9 matrix to summarize the results of the reactions of
each of the chemicals with each other (when reacting the chemicals together, there
will generally be three observations: no reaction, a color change in solution, and the
formation of a precipitate).
7. Place 3 drops unknown one into eight of the well plates. Then place 3 drops of
unknown two into the first well, 3 drops of unknown 3 into the second well, 3 drops
of unknown 4 into the third well, all the way up to placing 3 drops of unknown nine
into well eight (remember to record the reactions of each solution mixture into the
matrix)
8. Wash the well plate out with distilled water into the waster liter beaker that should be
placed under the hood of your lab station.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 with each subsequent solution (fill seven wells with unknown 2,
place three drops of unknown three into well one, unknown four in the second well
etc. ending with filling one well with unknown eight and reacting it with unknown
nine in the first well)
10. After all reactions have been recorded in the matrix, the next step is to identify each
of the unknowns. Listed in the lab manual are reactions that will help identify each of
the solutions by reacting them with known solutions
11. After all solutions have been identified, wash the well plate, return the tray under the
window, place pipets in the beaker in the hood, return unknown samples back to the
rack, and dump contents of waste beaker in the waste jug properly.

Experiment 15 Identification of Chemical Compounds in Solution

30 September 2014
Unknown
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Acid
X

Base

Neutral
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
Data

Experiment 15 Identification of Chemical Compounds in Solution

30 September 2014
Discussion
The main objective of this experiment was to investigate ionic compounds and
their reactions and to know the solubility of these species in aqueous solutions. The
objectives were achieved through identifying chemicals based on their properties.
Unknown solutions were combined together and chemical reactions occurred. Based on
the physical and chemical characteristics of these reactions, we were able to deduce what
each unknown solution was.
In the experiment, it was vital that none of pipets were placed in the wrong
solution, because it could cause contamination. While most of the solutions mixed
together created no reaction, if a pipet were to get into a wrong solution and react, you
would not have any pure solution left to identify the solution through more chemical
reactions.
In identifying the reactions, the pH level was important because it provided a
basis for what the chemical could or could not be. It narrowed down the selection for
what some of the unknowns could be and could also provide confirmation about the
identity of the solution if there were only one or two acids/bases present within the mix of
unknowns. A majority of the experiment consisted of reacting the unknowns with known
chemicals to see whether or not they matched the description provided in the lab manual
about would occur if those specific chemicals reacted. It was also the point of the matrix
that was created. It was a tool that provided more information about what chemical each
of the unknowns could be. What the experiment aimed at was to get a sense of chemical
reactions and using deductive reasoning based on all the chemical evidence that was
given to you as well as information found.

Experiment 15 Identification of Chemical Compounds in Solution

30 September 2014
Conclusion
The purpose of the experiment was to identify certain unknown solutions based on their
chemical properties and reactions. The experiment consisted of reacting unknown
solutions with known solutions in the hope of the desired reaction, confirming what the
solution would be. Based on my results from the reaction (chemical evidence) and from
deductive reasoning, I was able to deduce what each of the unknown chemicals were.
Arabic set: 73
Unknown Roman Numeral solution
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX

Suspected Chemical
Sulfuric Acid H2SO4
Potassium Iodate KIO3
Sodium thiosulfate Na2S2O3
Nitric Acid HNO3
Water H2O
Sodium Sulfide Na2S
Sodium Hydroxide NaOH
Silver Nitrate AgNO3
Potassium Iodide KI