Topic 3 - Identifying substances

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE?

• The procedure that a chemist might use will include the following:
  • 1) note the colour
  • 2) attempt to dissolve it in water, and note the colour of the solution
  • 3) heat it, and see if any gases come off.

Colour

• Table

Solubility in water

• Table
• A soluble calcium compound could be the chloride or nitrate. A soluble carbonate could be sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate. Therefore if we mixed a solution of sodium carbonate with a solution of calcium nitrate, calcium carbonate would be precipitated out leaving sodium and…