Discussion of Results
During the first week the goal was to determine the unknown compound. In order to determine the unknown compound, many tests were performed testing the solubility, pH level, conductivity, cations present (flame test), and the anions present in the compound. The anion test had positive results for the sulfate test due to the formation of a white precipitate, indicating the presence of a sulfate ion. For the sulfate test the unknown solution, potassium sulfate, and combining it with hydrochloric acid and barium chloride. If a sulfate anion was present in the unknown solution, then the anion would combine with the barium and form the precipitate, BaSO4, and the chlorine ion would combine with the unknown’s cation. In this case a sulfate anion was present in the unknown so the sulfate combined with barium in the form of a precipitate, and the potassium combined with the chloride ion as an aqueous solution. The same fundamentals are used when testing for a chloride anion. If a chloride anion is present, except in the absence of sulfate, bromide, and iodide, when the unknown solution is combined with 6 M HNO3 and AgNO3 the chloride anion will combine with the Ag and form a precipitate in the …show more content…
After the unknown compound was stirred in acetone for three minutes it turned a milky color, but never dissolved. Since the unknown compound dissolves in water that would indicate the unknown is either a polar or ionic compound, which is true for potassium sulfate, as indicated on page 591. For the pH test it was determined that the unknown compound turned the pH paper an orange color similar to a pH of 4, meaning the compound was slightly acidic. The conductivity test it was determined that the compound had a resistance of 70,000
During the first week the goal was to determine the unknown compound. In order to determine the unknown compound, many tests were performed testing the solubility, pH level, conductivity, cations present (flame test), and the anions present in the compound. The anion test had positive results for the sulfate test due to the formation of a white precipitate, indicating the presence of a sulfate ion. For the sulfate test the unknown solution, potassium sulfate, and combining it with hydrochloric acid and barium chloride. If a sulfate anion was present in the unknown solution, then the anion would combine with the barium and form the precipitate, BaSO4, and the chlorine ion would combine with the unknown’s cation. In this case a sulfate anion was present in the unknown so the sulfate combined with barium in the form of a precipitate, and the potassium combined with the chloride ion as an aqueous solution. The same fundamentals are used when testing for a chloride anion. If a chloride anion is present, except in the absence of sulfate, bromide, and iodide, when the unknown solution is combined with 6 M HNO3 and AgNO3 the chloride anion will combine with the Ag and form a precipitate in the …show more content…
After the unknown compound was stirred in acetone for three minutes it turned a milky color, but never dissolved. Since the unknown compound dissolves in water that would indicate the unknown is either a polar or ionic compound, which is true for potassium sulfate, as indicated on page 591. For the pH test it was determined that the unknown compound turned the pH paper an orange color similar to a pH of 4, meaning the compound was slightly acidic. The conductivity test it was determined that the compound had a resistance of 70,000