FabianVital 11/5/12 Period2 Ionic vs.

Covalent Bonding Lab Investigation

Introduction: The reason both, ionic and covalent, bonds forms are to become stable or form an octet. Non-metals and metals causing electrons to be transferred form ionic bonds. The metals become cations because metals lose electron due to the fact that they have low ionization. On the other hand, non-metals gain electrons due to their high electronegativity. These ions are held by electrostatic attraction. The ionic compounds only conduct electricity when dissolved in water because of its crystal lattice structure. The crystal has to be dissociated. In covalent bonding, the bonds are formed by two non-metals causing electrons to be shared. There are no ions formed in covalent bonding and the structure is usually a molecule. Covalent bonds do not conduct electricity. The purpose of this experiment is to see which specific bond is taking place in the given solutions. Hypotheses: Table 1: The expected results of testing five different chemicals.
Compounds to be Tested Distilled (pure) water Sodium Chloride Sucrose (sugar) Dextrose Sodium sulfate Chemical Formula H 2O NaCL C12H22O11 C6H12O6 NaSO4 Hypothesis 1: Ionic or Covalent? Covalent Ionic Covalent Covalent Ionic Hypothesis 2: High or Low Melting Point? Low High Low Low High Hypothesis 3: Will it conduct electricity? No Yes No No Yes

Procedures: PART I. Melting Point and Strength of Bonds 1. Fold aluminum foil into a square that can fit four substances on each corner without any of them mixing. 2. Place the square of foil on the Bunsen burner for no longer than 2 minutes. 3. Start to observe and record what chemicals burn from first to last. 4. After recording the results, let the foil cool off and wash off the chemicals in the sink. PART II 1. Place a sample of each chemical on a plate but on different holes. 2. Test if the chemicals conduct electricity dry with an ohmmeter. Then record your observations by stating, Yes or No. 3. Then add drops of water into each hole of the chemicals until the chemical has dissolved. 4. When dissolved, check if the chemicals now conduct electricity with the ohmmeter and record observations by stating, Yes or No. Results: Table 2: The actual results of the tested chemicals.
Name/Chemical Formula: PartI:MeltingPoint(1 5;High,Med.orLow?) PartII:ConductedElectricity?(Yes/No) FinalConclusion:Ionicor CovalentBonds? Dry Distilled(pure) water SodiumChloride Sucrose(sugar)/ C12 Dextrose/C SodiumSulfate 1=lowest(already melted) 5=high 3= medium 2= low 4= high N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Dissolved No Yes No No Yes Covalent Ionic Covalent Covalent Ionic

Conclusion: The purpose of the experiment was met. The given bonds were tested and the hypothesis turned out to be correct. After the laboratory, it was concluded that Sodium Sulfate and Sodium Chloride were ionic compounds, while Sucrose and Dextrose turned out to be covalent bonds. All of the hypotheses being correct, the results demonstrated the ionic compounds were those that conducted electricity in water and had high melting points. This meant that the bonds formed were strong. However the covalent compounds were those who did not conduct electricity in water and had low melting points. This meant that the bonds formed were weak. Ionic bonds, formed from cations(positive) and anions(negative), can have electricity flow through its solution when broken down in water. Ionic bonds are very strong since the electrostatic attraction makes the bonds more tight and appealing to one another. Covalent bonds do not conduct electricity because no ions are formed, meaning that electric charge cant flow through the solution.