S3 Chemistry Practical

Experiment(1 ) Date:
Electrical conductivity of different types of compounds
Object
To find out which type of compounds conduct
clectricity
Chemical Background
Elements combined to form compounds. Elements can combine in
different ways to form
different types of compounds. The physical properties of the different
compounds are
different. In this experiment, we are going toclassify a number of compounds intodifferent
types by investigating the electrical conductivity of them in diferent states: solid,
liquid and
aqueous solution.

The compounds being tested are wax, sugar, sodium chloride, potassium
nitrate, water,
ethanol, lead(ll) bromide and dilute hydrochloric acid.

Procedure
1 Set up the circuit as shown below.

light
bulb
DC power -graphite
supply electrodes
substance
under test

2. Place the following substances in the container for test.

Solids: suga;, sodium chloride, and potassium nitrate

Liquids: distilled water, sodium chloride solution, potassium nitrate solution, sugar
solution, ethanol solution
3 Observe whether the light bulb lights up.
4 Set up another circuit to test the electrical conductivity of solid wax lumps and dilute
hydrochloric acid.
S. Heat somewax lumps gently in a beaker over a tripod and wire gauze until they melt.
Test the electrical conductivity of the molten wax.
6 Use the following set-up to hcat up some lead(II) bromide solid until it melts. Observe
whether the light bulb lights up when the lead(|I) bromide is in solid (before heating)
and molten state.

6 V battery

light bulb(
Glass tubing

crocodile clamp
clip
boiling tube
positive negative electrode
electrode
molten lead(ll)
bromide

heat

Observe what happens to the molten lead(Il) bromide after cooling and note whether the
light bulb lights up or not.

Result
ired h het
Electrical conductivity
Compound Constituent elements
Solid Liquid Aqueous
Sugar
Sodium chloride

Potassium nitrate

Distilled water

Ethanol

Wax

Dilute hydrochloric acid

Lead(ll) bromide
Hgdaebrise
The constituent elements in a compound can be metals or non-metals. Complete the
following table.

Constituent elements
Compound
Metal and non-metal Non-metals only
Sugar
Sodium chloride

Potassium nitrate

Ethanol

Wax

Dilute hydrochloric acid

Lead(ll) bromide

List the compounds that have different electrical conductivity in different physical states.
What is the common feature of their constituent elements?

metls
List the compounds that have the same electricalconductivity in different physical states.
What is the common feature of their constituent elements?

lels
Conclusion

I. Compounds made up of etes and hnedo not conductelectricity in

the state, but can do so when in

These compounds are called

eledadgde
2. In general, compounds made up of hn netaonly do not conduct electricity,
even when in Or
Rey These compounds are called

klel.lyr
Examples:

3. There are some exceptions for the compounds in 2. One example tested in this

experinent is )-l hydedbi, It can conduct electricity when it is in

Two other examples: (rn' d an nile tid