Name: Noellee Forbes

Topic: Group II Elements

Skill: P/D
Problem Statement
A lab technician enters a prep room and found 4 bottles containing white crystalline
solids. He also discovered 4 labels on the ground which reads MgSO4, CaSO4, SrSO4,
and BaSO4. Plan and design an experiment that the technician could use to re-label
the bottles.

Hypothesis: If the solubility of the sulphates when reacted with water and acid is ABCD
(most soluble- least soluble ) then the identities of the sulphates will be MgSO4,CaSO4,SrSO4
and BaSO4 respectively.

Aim: To determine the identities of group II sulphates by testing their solubility in water and
acid
Apparatus/Materials: distilled water, 6 beakers, concentrated HCl, measuring cylinder, Bunsen
burner, wire gauze, tripod stand, stirring rod, electronic balance, watch glass

Diagram:

Method:
1. Set up the Bunsen burner as shown in the diagram above
2. Label beakers A-D and label the crystalline solids A-D
3. Measure 20cm3 of distilled water and add to beaker A
4. Place beaker A on the wire gauze and allow water to come to a boil
5. Measure 10g of solid A with the electronic balance and add it to the boiling water
6. Gently stir the mixture using a stirring rod
7. Record observations in a table along with an inference
8. Repeat steps 3-7 with B,C and D

Confirmatory Test
1. Label the solids that did not dissolve E and F
2. Measure 25cm3 of concentrated HCl and add to a beaker
 3. Place beaker on the wire gauze and allow the solution to come to a boil
4. Measure 10g of solid E and add it to the beaker
5. Gently stir the mixture using a stirring rod
6. Record observations in a table along with an inference
7. Repeat steps 2-6 for F

Variables:
Controlled variables: volume of water /HCl, mass of solids/sulphates used
Manipulated: The type of solid/sulphate used
Responding: Solubility of the sulphates/solids in water/HCl

Data to be Collected

TABLE SHOWING THE OBSERVATIONS WHEN REACTING SULPHATES A,B,C

AND D WITH WATER AND THE INFERENCES MADE

Sulphate Observation Inference

A
B
C
D

TABLE SHOWING THE OBSERVATIONS WHEN REACTING SULPHATES E AND F

WITH CONCENTRATED ACID AND THE INFERENCES MADE
Sulphate Observation Inference
E
F

Treatment of Results
The results observed would be presented in a table with inferences as well as any necessary
equations. Possible reason for the results should be stated.
Expected Results
MgSO4 will be the most soluble and easily dissolving fully in water. CaSO4 will be soluble but
require more stirs than MgSO4 to dissolve. SrSO4 will only dissolve a little or not at all and
BaSO4 will need the most stirs but will still not dissolve in water. In the confirmatory test SrSO4
will dissolve but BaSO4 will not.
Interpretation of Expected Results
If the order of solubility from highest to lowest is MgSO4 CaSO4 SrSO4  BaSO4 then the
hypothesis is proven true and accepted. If not, the hypothesis is proven false and rejected
Limitations
  Variations in temperatures of the environment may affect the solubility of the sulphates
 Prolonged exposure to the environment may affect the reactivity of the sulphates
Precaution
 Measurements are taken at eye level
 The stirring rod is cleaned after every solid to avoid cross contamination
Sources of Error
 Stirring some mixtures faster than others
 The beakers and bottles were not labelled properly and were not corresponding
Assumptions
 Temperature of water and acid are constant throughout the container and are the same for
all the containers.
 The volume of liquid and the temperature of the liquids were enough to dissolve the
solids.