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You are cleaning out a chemistry lab and find three
Chapter , Problem 1DE(choose chapter or problem)
You are cleaning out a chemistry lab and find three unlabeled bottles, each containing white powder. Nearby these bottles are three loose labels: “Sodium sulfide,' “Sodium bicarbonate' and “Sodium chloride.' Let’s design an experiment to figure out which label goes with which bottle.
(a) You could try to use the physical properties of the three solids to distinguish among them. Using an internet resource or the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, look up the melting points, aqueous solubilities, or other properties of these salts. Are the differences among these properties for each salt large enough to distinguish among them? If so, design a set of experiments to distinguish each salt and therefore figure out which label goes on which bottle.
(b) You could use the chemical reactivity of each salt to distinguish it from the others. Which of these salts, if any, will act as an acid? A base? A strong electrolyte? Can any of these salts be easily oxidized or reduced? Can any of these salts react to produce a gas? Based on your answers to these questions, design a set of experiments to distinguish each salt and thus determine which label goes on which bottle.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
You are cleaning out a chemistry lab and find three unlabeled bottles, each containing white powder. Nearby these bottles are three loose labels: “Sodium sulfide,' “Sodium bicarbonate' and “Sodium chloride.' Let’s design an experiment to figure out which label goes with which bottle.
(a) You could try to use the physical properties of the three solids to distinguish among them. Using an internet resource or the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, look up the melting points, aqueous solubilities, or other properties of these salts. Are the differences among these properties for each salt large enough to distinguish among them? If so, design a set of experiments to distinguish each salt and therefore figure out which label goes on which bottle.
(b) You could use the chemical reactivity of each salt to distinguish it from the others. Which of these salts, if any, will act as an acid? A base? A strong electrolyte? Can any of these salts be easily oxidized or reduced? Can any of these salts react to produce a gas? Based on your answers to these questions, design a set of experiments to distinguish each salt and thus determine which label goes on which bottle.
ANSWER:Step 1 of 3
The physical and chemical properties are observed in the case of each compound. The chemical properties are generally helpful in the separation of a mixture.