Lab #4

Testing Properties of Substances

Kristen Pyke
Emmalee Dunn, Rachel Kays, Sara Gamble
Pre-AP Science, Block C
March 30th, 2011
Mr. Ramsay
Objective
To determine physical and chemical properties including the solubility,
conductivity and reaction to acid of several substances.

Introduction
All substances can be identified by their physical and chemical properties.
Physical and chemical properties define the nature of a substance (__1__). Some
examples of physical properties are colour, solubility in water, solubility,
conductivity, etc (_2_). Examples of chemical properties include reactivity with
other substances, flammability, toxicity, etc (__3__). Some substances in this
experiment are expected to have high solubility, strong conductivity, and a strong
reaction with acid, and others are not.

Materials
Microplate, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium
bromide, calcium chloride, copper (II) sulfate, sucrose, distilled water, tap water,
vegetable oil, zinc, hydrochloric acid, limewater, test tube, rubber stopper,
conductivity indicator, matches, medicine dropper, Microsoft Office Word 2003

Procedure
Section 1:
The required materials were brought to the lab table and the microplate was set up
with the desired chemicals. About three drops of water were placed in each well.
The changes in the substances were observed and the solubility was
recorded. The medicine dropper was then but back.

Section 2:
After the substances were dissolved in water, a conductivity indicator was
obtained. The conductivity indicator was placed in each well one at a time
to see which substances had strong or weak conductivity, and which were non-
electrolytes. The results were recorded on paper and the materials were cleaned
and put away.

Section 3:
Zinc:
The required materials were selected and taken to the workstation.
Zinc pellets were placed in a test tube with hydrochloric acid. Once gas was
produced, a match was lit and inserted into the test tube. The results and
observations were recorded, and then the materials were cleaned and put away.
Calcium Carbonate:
The materials were chosen and taken to the work area. Calcium carbonate was
placed in a test tube, and then limewater was added. Another test tube was taken,
and the gas from the limewater and calcium carbonate was poured in the test tube.
The results and observations were recorded, and then the materials were cleaned
and put away.
Results

Quantitative Results

Table 1 displaying the solubility of each chemical tested.

Chemical Solubility (low, high)

Sodium chloride High
Sodium bicarbonate Low
Calcium carbonate High
Potassium bromide High
Calcium chloride High
Copper (II) sulfate High
Sucrose Low

Table 2 displaying the conductivity of each chemical tested

Chemical Conductivity
Sodium chloride Strong
Sodium bicarbonate Strong
Calcium chloride Weak
Potassium bromide Strong
Calcium chloride Strong
Copper (II) sulfate Strong
Sucrose Non-electrolyte
Distilled water Non-electrolyte
Tap water Weak
Vegetable oil Non-electrolyte

Table 3 displaying the reaction with acid in the chemicals tested

Substance Observations of Reaction with Acid Results of Gas Test

Zinc Bubbles formed, gas was given off Hydrogen gas was
and there was an energy change. detected.
Chemical property of Zn Zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid to
produce hydrogen gas. --------------------------

Calcium carbonate
Chemical property of Calcium
carbonate
Bubbles were formed, the colour Carbon dioxide gas was
changed to a milky white. A white detected.
precipate was formed in the liquid.
Calcium carbonate reacts with
limewater to produce carbon dioxide --------------------------
gas.
Conclusion
It was concluded that some chemicals have higher conductivity and solubility
than others. It was also concluded that both chemicals tested reacted with the acid,
but both in different ways. The gas test on the two different chemicals both
predicted different kinds of gas. No possible sources of error were found. The
only improvement that would have been made would be to put the chemicals
around the outside on the micro plate so there would be no chance of dropping
anything in another chemical.
 Literature Cited

“Physical and Chemical Properties”. Online. Internet. 29 March, 2011. Available:

http://www.iun.edu/~cpanhd/C101webnotes/matter-and-energy/properties.html.

“Physical Properties of Material”. Online. Internet. 29 March, 2011. Available:

http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/applychem/propertyp.html.

“Chemical Property”. Online. Internet. 29 March, 2011. Available:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_property.