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Identification of Unknowns
Introduction
A variety of chemical tests can be used to identify an unknown substance. In this experiment
you will carry out some simple chemical tests to determine the identities of compounds which
are unknown to you. You will perform qualitative analyses, that is, tests that are done simply to
identify the material, but not to determine the amount of that material present. Quantitative
analysis, on the other hand, involves the determination of the amounts of materials.
In the lab you will be given three compounds (your unknowns) that will be named only by
letters (for example, unknowns A, B, and C). The flow chart on page 2 outlines the chemical
tests you will perform in order to identify your unknowns. Follow along on the flow chart as you
read the following explanation.
Identification of Unknowns
Prelab
Name________________
1. In this experiment you will do qualitative analyses to determine the identity of unknown
compounds.
What does qualitative analysis mean?
B. Which two water-soluble compounds produce bubbles of gas when vinegar is added?
C. Carefully examine the chemical formulas of the three compounds you just named above.
What ion do all three have in common? Be sure to include the correct charge on the ion.
D. Suppose that you are working with a water-soluble unknown which does not produce a bright
pink colored solution when phenolphthalein is added. Based on this result, which of the
unknowns might you have? (list all possible identities)
E. After getting the results of this phenolphthalein test (no pink color; part D), which test should
you perform next to narrow down the list of possible identities for your unknown?
3. It is very important not to use too much of the unknown compound when carrying out the
water-solubility test. Suppose you are working with an unknown that is actually soluble in water:
you take a sample of the unknown that is too large (larger than the amount specified in the
experimental procedure) and add some water. What do you think will happen?
Identification of Unknowns
Procedure
5
NaOHa strong base
Take the test tube containing the NaOH solution from above and add one drop of
phenolphthalein solution. Take careful note of the bright pink (fuschia) color. This is the color
that is produced when phenolphthalein reacts with a base. You may now discard the contents of
all test tubes down the drain. IMPORTANT: Any test tubes containing phenolphthalein must be
washed very thoroughly to remove all traces of this chemical and prevent it from interfering with
other tests.
Results of Test___
compound dissolved
solution turned bright pink
bubbles of gas were produced
6
Phenolphthalein test
Take the test tube containing your unknown that you saved after the water-solubility test, and
add one drop of phenolphthalein solution. If the solution turns very bright pink (fuschia), the
unknown is basic. If the solution is pale pink or colorless, the unknown is acidic or only very
weakly basic. When finished, discard the solution down the drain. IMPORTANT: Any test
tubes containing phenolphthalein must be washed very thoroughly to remove all traces of this
chemical and prevent it from interfering with other tests.
Vinegar test
Place a fresh sample of the unknown in a clean test tube (do not add water). Add approximately
1 mL of vinegar. Immediately look for the formation of gas bubbles. If gas is being formed, the
solution may appear to be fizzing as the bubbles rise to the surface. When finished, discard the
solution down the drain.
NaOH test
Place a fresh sample of the unknown in a clean test tube. Add approximately 4 mL of water and
stir until the compound is dissolvedthe solution should be clear and colorless before
proceeding. Then add 3 drops of the 1.0 M NaOH solution (NOT the solid NaOH pellets). Look
for the appearance of a white precipitateit may not settle to the bottom, but may just make the
solution very cloudy. When finished, discard the solution down the drain.
Benedicts test
Prepare a boiling water bath by half-filling a small beaker with distilled water and placing it on a
hot plate; heat until the water boils. Place a fresh sample of the unknown in a clean test tube.
Add approximately 4 mL of water and stir until the compound is dissolved. Then add 1 mL of
Benedicts reagent (which has a pale blue color). Place the test tube in the boiling water bath
and allow it to heat for about 3 minutes. The solution will either remain clear blue (due to the
Benedicts reagent), or will form a chunky looking brick-red/orange precipitate. When finished,
discard the solution down the drain. Keep the water bath set up in case you need it later for the
hot water test.
Rubbing alcohol test
Place a fresh sample of the unknown in a clean test tube (do not add water). Add approximately
8 mL of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Stir/shake very vigorously for several minutes. If
after ~5 minutes the compound has not dissolved at all, you can conclude that it is not soluble in
alcohol. If the compound is completely dissolved or nearly dissolved after 5 minutes, you can
conclude that it is soluble in alcohol. When finished, discard the solution down the drain.
Hot water test
Prepare a hot water bath (not boiling) by half-filling a small beaker with distilled water and
placing it on a hot plate. Heat the water until it feels hot to the touch but is not boiling. Fill a
small test tube to the 1 mL level with the dry unknown solid to be tested (note: this is a lot more
of the unknown than you have used for any other tests). You can determine the 1 mL level by
comparing the test tube to your small graduated cylinder. Then add water to the test tube to the
5 mL level. Heat in the water bath for 2-3 minutes, stirring the contents of the test tube
occasionally. While heating, observe whether the solid dissolves readily or not.
Identification of Unknowns
Report Sheet
Name __________________
MgSO4 solution:
CaSO4 solution:
Results of Test___
8
Unknown _____
____Chemical Test Carried Out
Results of Test___
_______________________________________________________________________
Unknown _____
____Chemical Test Carried Out
Results of Test___
Identification of Unknowns
Postlab
NAME__________________
1. Circle the correct word in brackets and then complete the sentence below.
Todays experiment was a [qualitative / quantitative] analysis because:
2. In the experiment titled Separation of a Mixture you determined how many grams of benzoic
acid were contained in a sample of a mixture. This was a [qualitative / quantitative] analysis.
(circle the correct word in brackets)
3. On the prelab you identified CaCO3, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3 as the three compounds that
produce bubbles of gas when vinegar is added. All three compounds are a source of the
carbonate ion, CO32-. When this ion comes in contact with vinegar, it reacts with the acid in the
vinegar and decomposes to form a gas. The gas is visible as bubbles travelling to the surface of
the liquid. What gas is being formed? If youre not sure, ask the instructor for help.
4. When KOH (potassium hydroxide) is mixed with phenolphthalein, a bright pink color can be
observed. What can you conclude about KOH?