Ionic and Covalent Bonding Lab

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

Atoms trying to satisfy the octet rule are formed through chemical bonding to create Ionic and

Covalent bonds. The octet rule states that atoms will gain, lose, or share electrons to become

stable and contain a complete outer shell of electrons. Ionic compounds are devised when the

metals bond to non-metals by transferring electrons. This transfer creates both cations and

anions, which are positively and negatively charged, respectively. Since the Cations and anions

are opposites, these bonded atoms often form lattice structures. This displays why Ionic bonds

have various properties, such as a high melting point, low volatility, high solubility in water, and

high conductivity when dissolved in water. Precisely, non-metals form covalent compounds that

habitually tend to gain electrons. Therefore, they compete for valence electrons to attempt to fill

their octet. Causing an incomplete transfer of electrons that is exemplified by a covalent bond.

Covalent bonds tend to have high volatility, low melting points, low solubility in water, and very

minimal conductivity when dissolved in water.

ANALYSIS & DATA

Figure I: Arrangement of Substance on Aluminium Foil

Parts of each substance were formatted into various compartments of aluminum foil over a

Bunsen burner. They were heated for two minutes to test melting points for all compactified

substances.

Figure 2: Arrangement of Substances Inside Microplate

Solubility was tested first by adding one pipette of distilled water to each substance inside the

plate, as shown, and then mixing for roughly 10 seconds. Next, conductivity was measured with

a conductivity device cleaned between tests to prevent any cross-contamination that had the

potential to occur in the vast lab.

Figure 3: Recorded traits of each substance

The table below visually explains the lab via qualitative and quantitative traits and reasoning.

- This is done chronologically (I was first to melt and 5 to lats to melt). “N” indicates that

substances didn’t decrease temperature in the time allotted.

 NaCl, UK #1, and UK #4 fully demonstrated the typical properties of ionic compounds,

except for one discrepancy with UK #1. Data recorded for NaCl (sodium chloride) and UK #4

indicates that they both had low volatility and high solubility. They were both conductive —

NaCl moderately and UK #4 extremely — and both had assumed high melting points because

they melted relatively late or not at all. Additionally, in the case of NaCl, sodium and chlorine

are a metal and nonmetal respectively, which are the elements that form ionic bonds. These

properties all indicated that they were ionic compounds. On the other hand, UK #1 had low

solubility, which doesn’t correspond with the high solubility typically characteristic of ionic

compounds. However, the majority of UK #1’s properties were distinctively ionic— it

demonstrated low volatility and medium conductivity, as well as a high melting point because it

didn’t melt within the allotted time —therefore UK #1 itself is most likely ionic. Further, data

recorded for C11H22O12 helped to determine which substances were covalent. C11H22O12 (sugar)

had low volatility and high solubility, two properties characteristic of ionic compounds. Yet, it

also had low conductivity and a lower melting point than NaCl (a known ionic compound), both

characteristic of covalent compounds. Therefore, C11H22O12 had two ionic and two covalent

properties, but because its elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are all nonmetals that make

up covalent compounds, we can conclude that C11H22O12 itself is a covalent compound. UK #2

had the same properties as sugar, (low volatility, high solubility, and low conductivity,) but had

an even lower melting point. Therefore, we can conclude that it is covalent, as ionic compounds

tend to have higher melting points than covalent compounds. Lastly, UK #3 had a discrepancy

with low volatility, an ionic property. However, it still had mostly covalent properties, with low

solubility, low conductivity, and a melting point lower than sugar, so it is most likely covalent.
One error that occurred in the experiment was a mistake in volatility measurement. Wafting the

compounds from a distance too large could have prevented the detection of some scents and

contributed to the consistent “low” volatility measurement in cases where the volatility should

probably have been “high”. Additionally, another error that occurred was the mixing of the

substances tested. The aluminum foil they were placed on was uneven, causing some substances

to slide toward the center and mix with the others. Attempts to separate some granules from

those of other substances’ were not completely successful. This mistake could have altered the

results of some property tests, causing incorrect results.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we can identify substances as ionic or covalent compounds by testing their

properties, specifically melting points, volatility, solubility, and conductivity. The results drawn

from experimental data conclude that NaCl, UK #1, and UK #4 were ionic compounds, and

C11H22O12, UK #2, and UK #3 were covalent compounds. Despite the errors in wafting distance

and the contamination that occurred during the lab, each substance could be categorized as an

ionic or covalent compound.