Furthermore, all 6 properties tested further solidified suspicions of the identity of the salt. Salt #287’s properties were initially investigated through a lab test to determine if the salt was Hygroscopic, Deliquescent, Efflorescent or none, and when the salt was left to react with the environment, it was found that the mass of the salt did not change from the initial mass over a course of 15 minutes, which would indicate the salt does not absorb water or lose water and does not have the above properties. Results found in this test are consistent with known properties of Sodium Chloride, being that it is not Hygroscopic, Efflorescent or Deliquescent. Thus, based on this experiment solely, it is not ensured that the salt is Sodium Chloride as 3 other salts share this …show more content…
In performing this test, it was found that salt #287 did not melt under the flame of the bunsen burner which had a temperature of 800 ºc. This indicates the melting point of the salt is above 800-degree celsius. This result remains consistent with the known melting point of Sodium chloride of 800.7-degree celsius. Using the result of this test, salt #287 is most likely Sodium Chloride as no other salt has a melting point above 800- degree celsius. This experiment yielded conclusive results on the possible identities of the salts.
Furthermore, the flame test experiment was performed. By dipping a nichrome wire in a solution of the unknown salt, and placing it in flame, the color of the flame further helps indicates the possible identities. When salt #287 was exposed to flame, the color that was noted was a bright opaque orange, whereas the flame color for Sodium Chloride was a yellow color. Due to this, based on this test only, salt #287 could be Calcium Chloride dihydrate, which is the only salt to produce an orange flame. This lab test shows that the unknown salt is not Sodium Chloride as their flame colors are