EXPERIMENT 4:

IONIC AND COVALENT PROPERTIES

PURPOSE
To measure and observe properties of various substances.
To arrange the substances into groups on the basis of their properties.
To learn the properties of ionic and covalent substance.

BACKGROUND
Chemical compounds are combinations of atoms held together by chemical bonds.
These chemical bonds are of two basic types: ionic and covalent. Ionic bonds result
when one or more electrons from one atom or group of atoms are transferred to
another atom. Positive and negative ions are formed. In covalent compounds the
electrons are shared by the bonded atoms.
The curls and waves of your hair are the result of many ionic, covalent and hydrogen
bonds between the chains of atoms that make up each hair follicle. Styling hair by
wetting it or heating it with a curling iron is an attempt to change the hydrogen and
ionic bonds so they will form a new shape. The changes are temporary and when
you wash your hair, the style is gone. The solution in a "permanent" (or "perm") on
the other hand, breaks and reforms covalent bonds. A permanent wave does not
wash out when you shampoo your hair.
The physical properties of a substance such as melting point, solubility, and
conductivity tell us a lot about the type of bond in a compound. In this experiment,
you will conduct tests on the properties and compile data enabling you to classify
compounds as ionic or covalent.

MATERIALS
medicine droppers
conductivity apparatus
iron ring and stand
2 test tubes
sucrose

Bunsen burner
tin can lid
calcium chloride
citric acid

ethanol
potassium iodide
sodium chloride
stearic acid

PROCEDURE
A - Description
1. Record a detailed description of each substance in your data table. Your
observations should be extensive.

B - Melting Point
1. Set-up the ring stand with the tin can lid over a Bunsen burner. Place a few
crystals (approx. 10) of each of the substances into separate 10 mL beakers. Label
the beakers and arrange them around the edge of the tin can lid as shown:

2. Light the burner. Make sure the beakers are approximately the same distance from
the flame of the Bunsen burner. Heat for two minutes only. Remove the substances
that melt immediately. Notice which substances melt very quickly and which do not
melt at all. Record your data.

C - Solubility
1. Place a few crystals (approx. 5-10) of one substance into a clean test tube. Add
10-15 drops of water and gently agitate the test tube for 3-5 minutes. Record your
observations. Repeat this procedure for the rest of the substances.
2. Using 10-15 drops of ethanol instead of water, repeat the above process. Record
your observations.
NOTE: In procedure 2, be sure that the test tube is clean and DRY for each
substance before adding the ethanol.

D - Conductivity
1. Using the conductivity tester, test each of the solutions. Record your observations.

Sample data table:

Compound

Melting
Point

Solubility
Water

Conductivity
Ethanol

Note: Write the descriptions separately since there may not be enough space on a
table.

Name: ________________________________

Date ___________

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Define the terms covalent bonding and ionic bonding.

2. In part B, procedure 2, why should the 10 mL beakers be approximately the same

distance from the flame of the Bunsen burner?

3. During which procedure should the Bunsen burner be lit, and how long should it
remain lit?

4. In part C, procedure 2, why should the test tubes be dry when testing the
solubility of a substance in ethanol?

5. In part B, procedure 1, how are you going to remember where each substance is
on the tin can lid?

6. Classify the properties to be tested (description, melting point, solubility, and

electrical conductivity) as chemical or physical properties.

Name: _____________________________

Date: ___________

IONIC AND COVALENT PROPERTIES

Compound

Description

Melting
Point

Solubility
Water

calcium
chloride
CaCl2

citric acid
C6H8O7
stearic acid
C18H36O2
sodium
chloride
NaCl
potassium
iodide
KI

sucrose
C12H22O11

Ethanol

Conductivity

RESULTS AND POST-LAB QUESTIONS

1. Using the physical property of solubility in water separate the compounds into 2
groups.
Group 1
Soluble in water

Group 2
Insoluble in water

2. What other physical properties do these groups have in common?

Group 1

Group 2

3. Which compounds do not share all the physical properties of these groups? Name
the compounds and the unshared physical property.

4. Separate the compounds into 2 groups based on the type of compound (i.e. ionic
or molecular).
Ionic

Molecular

5. Describe the general physical properties for ionic compounds.

6. Describe the general physical properties for molecular compounds.

7. Using your data, which physical property best separates the compounds into ionic
or molecular?

8. Using your data, which physical property is least helpful in separating the
compounds into ionic or molecular? Why?

9. List the physical properties you would predict the following compounds to have.
methane - CH4

acetic acid - HC2H3O2

copper(II) sulfate - CuSO4