Sodium Chloride, otherwise known as salt or common salt, is an ionic compound with the chemical formula of NaCl, representing a 1:1ratio of sodium to chloride. This bond is most common in the ocean, and it is responsible for the salinity of the seawater. This lab was done to look at the properties of covalent and ionic compound. The properties that were look at are: volatility, melting point, and solubility in water. After the experiment is conducted the compound is classified as either covalent or ionic. A covalent bond is a chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between two atoms, and an ionic bond is a type of chemical bond that involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Experimental.
The material used in this lab was test tubes, distilled water, a 250 mL beaker, a hot plate, a stirring rod, and some samples of Sodium Chloride. To test the volatility of the compound carefully smell the compound and be sure to use the correct "wafting" technique. The proper "wafting" technique is to cup a hand above the container with the compound in it and waft the air in the correct direction. If an odor is smelt the compound is said to have a high volatility. The next property to be tested is melting point. Place a small amount of the compound in a test tube. Then the test tube containing the compound is put in a beaker containing some distilled water and the beaker is placed onto the hot plate. Observe and record the amount of time it takes for the compound the liquify. If the compound is not melted after three minutes has passed consider the melting point to be very high. Finally to test the solubility (in water) place a small amount of the substance into a test tube and add distilled water a drop or two at a time. Using your stirring rod, stir the substance and water mixture, and then record how likely it is for the substance to dissolve in the water.
