Lab Sheet

Objective: Elements are not usually found alone in nature. Rather, a chemical bond may form between two or more elements to make a compound. Compounds can be characterized as ionic, covalent or metallic. In this lab, you will explore the characteristics of 4 major types of bonds: ionic bonds, covalent bonds (molecular covalent & network covalent) and metallic bonds.
Essential Question: How can the physical properties of a compound be used to predict bond type?

Procedure:
View the video where data is collected.
Use the listed substances to to complete the data table for ionic, covalent or metallic compounds.
Make careful observations for the covalent, metallic and ionic substances.
Create the models for solutions of ionic compounds and covalent.
Complete the CER model and use the results to write a paragraph to answer the essential question.
Definition of claim, evidence & reasoning
Example sentence starters
Claim: A statement of what is true or believed to be true that answers the original question/problem.
It was determined that _________________
Evidence: Scientific data (obtained from an experiment) that has been analyzed to support the claim.
The evidence that supports this claim is____________
Reasoning: A justification that connects the evidence to the claim. It shows why the data counts as evidence by using appropriate and sufficient scientific principles.
The scientific principles that supports this claim are ____________

Substances tested: NaCl, Stearic Acid, Vanillin, Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4), Fe, and Zn. Use these substances to complete the data table.

Background Information

Conductivity is the ability for a substance to conduct electricity. If compounds produce ions in water (aqueous), then they will conduct electricity. Determine whether a substance conducts electricity by placing the conductivity tester in solution.

Lights BRIGHTLY = STRONG conductor Lights DIMLY = WEAK conductor does not light = does not conduct electricity
Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve in another substance. Determine if the provided substances are soluble in water. (Do not test the metals for solubility.)
Observations Video for Data Collection
Substance
Bond Type
Dissolves in Water
(Yes or No)
Conducting Ability of Dry Substance
(Strong, Weak or None)
Conducting Ability
of Wet Substance/ Solution (Strong, Weak or None)

NaCl


x


MgSO4


x


Vanillin C8H8O3

x


Stearic acid


x


Fe

NO
Yes strong----


Zn

NO

1 answer

Based on the given information, I will assist you in filling out the data table based on your observations of the substances tested. Here’s how the data should look based on the characteristics of each substance:

Data Table

| Substance | Bond Type | Dissolves in Water (Yes or No) | Conducting Ability of Dry Substance (Strong, Weak, or None) | Conducting Ability of Wet Substance/Solution (Strong, Weak, or None) | |--------------------|------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | NaCl | Ionic | Yes | None | Strong | | MgSO4 | Ionic | Yes | None | Strong | | Vanillin C8H8O3 | Covalent (Molecular) | Yes | None | Weak | | Stearic Acid | Covalent (Molecular) | No | None | None | | Fe | Metallic | No | Strong | Strong | | Zn | Metallic | No | Strong | Strong |

Analysis of Results

Based on the table filled:

  • Ionic Compounds (NaCl, MgSO4):

    • Dissolve in water and conduct electricity when dissolved, indicating the presence of free ions that can move and carry charge, characteristic of ionic bonds.
  • Covalent Compounds (Vanillin, Stearic Acid):

    • Vanillin dissolves in water but does not conduct electricity strongly, while Stearic Acid does not dissolve at all. This reflects the nature of covalent bonds where molecules do not produce ions and thus do not conduct electricity.
  • Metallic Compounds (Fe and Zn):

    • These metals have strong conductivity in their solid states, reflecting the mobility of electrons in metallic bonds. However, they do not dissolve or conduct electricity in the same way as ionic compounds in solution.

Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER Model)

Claim: It was determined that the physical properties of a compound, such as solubility in water and conductivity, can be used to predict its bond type.

Evidence: The evidence that supports this claim is that ionic compounds (NaCl and MgSO4) dissolved in water and exhibited strong conductivity in solution, while covalent compounds (Vanillin and Stearic Acid) either did not dissolve or did not show significant conductivity. In contrast, metallic elements (Fe and Zn) did not dissolve in water but were strong conductors in their solid forms.

Reasoning: The scientific principles that support this claim are based on the behavior of different types of bonds. Ionic compounds disassociate into ions in solution, allowing them to conduct electricity, which aligns with their ionic nature. Covalent compounds tend to remain as intact molecules without producing charged particles, resulting in poor conductivity when dissolved. Metallic bonding, characterized by a 'sea of electrons', enables metals to conduct electricity well in solid form; however, they do not participate in solvation with water.

Answer to Essential Question

By observing the physical properties of the tested substances, specifically their solubility and conductivity, it becomes apparent that these properties can reliably indicate the type of chemical bond present. Ionic compounds dissolve in water and allow electricity to flow due to the presence of free ions, covalent compounds generally do not dissolve or conduct electricity due to the presence of neutral molecules, and metallic compounds exhibit strong conductivity due to the movement of delocalized electrons while remaining insoluble in water. Thus, careful analysis of these characteristics allows for accurate predictions concerning the bonding types of various compounds.