Experiment 1: Characteristics of Matter
Lusica, Patricia Marie
Tan, Jolene
Experiment 1 (Characteristics of Matter) is divided into three major parts. Part A shows the physical
properties and the different physical separations of the components of a mixture. Part B is the analysis of the
components of the mixture. The last part, C, consists of the changes of the components of the mixture that may
fall under several types of chemical reactons: combination, decomposition, single-replacement, and double-
replacement.
Keywords: mixture, physical separation, components, chemical reactions, changes
Introduction
Experiment 1 encompasses the
characteristics of matter. Matter is anything that
occupies space and has mass. It includes those
that people see (water, trees )and those that they
don’t (air). Chemists distinguished it among
categories based on its composition and properties.
Based on composition, it is classified as either a
pure substance or a mixture. A mixture is a
combination of two or more substances in which the
substances retain their distinct identities (Chang,
2002). It can be classified into homogeneous or
heterogeneous. Mixtures are physically combined
as opposed to pure substances which are
combined chemically. The components of a mixture
may be separated by mechanical/physical means.
Components of the mixture are then
classified under its properties: physical and
chemical. Based on these properties, matter can be
classified as a metal, nonmetal, or a compound.
This is obtained by performing tests after isolation
of components. These components may under
physical or chemical change. Chemical change
occurs when a chemical reaction occurs.
The experiment aims: (1) to identify the
different methods of separating components of a
mixture; (2) to apply the laboratory techniques
needed for each method of separation; (3) to
differentiate metals from nonmetals; and, to
differentiate physical from chemical change.
Experimental
Part A. Physical Separation of the Components of a
Mixture
Part A utilized Fe filings, mothballs, table
salt, Mg ribbon, food coloring, activated charcoal, I2
crystals, and hexane. This part is further divided
into four sections.
Section 1: 0.2g each of Fe filings,
mothballs, table salt was weighed and mixed in an
evaporating dish. 2 strips of Mg ribbon and a pinch
Chem 14.1: Characteristics of Matter
FAB2, Group 1, Jireh Sacramento
February 2, 2011
of food coloring were added. The mixture was then
scattered thinly on a piece of paper and a magnet
was passed underneath it. The separated
components were set aside.
Section 2: The remaining mixture was
placed in a 50mL beaker and 30 mL of water was
added, followed by a one-minute stirring. The
mixture was filtered and the residue was transferred
to an evaporating dish. A piece of perforated filter
paper was placed on top of the evaporating dish,
followed by an inverted funnel with a cotton plug on
top of the filter paper. The setup was heated until
deposits on the walls of the funnel were observed.
Section 3: The filtrate was boiled and
activated charcoal was added. Boiling continued
until the mixture was 20mL.
Section 4: One I2 crystal was added to a
2mL filtrate (collected in Section 3) followed by
shaking. 1mL of hexane was added. Using a
medicine dropper, the two layers were separated.
Hexane layer and aqueous layer were evaporated,
respectively.
Part B. Analysis of the Components of the Mixture
Part B utilized Fe, Mg, I2, mothballs, and
sulfur powder. Reagent used is 0.1 M hydrochloric
acid (HCl).
Small amounts of Fe, Mg, I2 and mothballs
were placed in separate test tubes. 10 drops of 0.1
M hydrochloric acid (HCl) were added to each and
covered immediately with a stopper. Observations
were made.
Mg ribbon was directly heated over a blue
flame until burned. Ash was placed in a test tube
with 5mL water, followed by shaking.
Acidity/basicity was tested.
The tip of a glass rod was heated over a
blue flame for a minute. Dipped in powdered sulfur,
the tip was heated again. Fumes were collected
with a test tube and stoppered with a cork. 1mL of
water was added, followed by shaking and testing
of acidity/basicity of the solution.
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Part C. Changes in the Components of the Mixture Mg Gas Metallic
formation
Part C utilized Fe, mothballs, food coloring, Naphthalene No reaction Non-metallic
table salt, Mg and iodine crystals. Reagents used balls
are 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ferric chloride I2 No reaction nonmetallic
(FeCl3). Table 2.0 Reaction with 0.1 M HCl
Fe, mothballs, food coloring, table salt, and
two iodine crystals were separately placed in 20mL For reaction of oxides with water, it was noted that
test tubes. They were heated in low flame. The test magnesium oxide was basic, and sulfur oxide –
tubes were cooled. Observations were made. acidic, as shown in Table 2.1
Fe and Mg were placed in two separate test
tubes. 10 drops of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) OXIDES REACTION CLASSIFICATION
were added to each. Observations were made WITH
Fe and Mg were placed in two separate test WATER
tubes. 10 drops of ferric chloride (FeCl3) were Magnesium Red to blue Basic
added to each. After 10 minutes, observations were oxide
made Sulfur dioxide Blue to red Acidic
Filtrate from Part A was placed in an Table 2.1 Reaction of oxides with water
evaporating dish. Red litmus paper was added.
Setup was evaporated to dryness. Based on the experimental results, the chemical
properties of:
Results
1.) Metal – oxides are basic
Part A. One characteristic of matter is its physical 2.) Nonmetal – oxides are acidic
properties. Table 1.0 shows the color and texture of
substances used in the experiment. Part C. When matter is heated up, changes may or
may not occur. Table 3.0 shows the observed
SUBSTANCE COLOR TEXTURE changes when matter was heated up.
Iron filings Metallic gray Rough
Mothballs white finely crushed SUBSTANCE OBSERVATION CHANGE
Table Salt white crystalline Fe No reaction Not applicable
Mg ribbon gray smooth with linear Food color Formed clumps Chemical
impressions I2 Turned purple Physical
Food color red powdered Naphthalene Crystallize, Physical
Table 1.0 Physical properties of Substances white residue
NaCl Popped, Physical
Table 1.1 shows the type of mixture and properties clumped,
of compound needed for separation. yellowish
PROPERTIES OF
Mg ribbon Sparked, Chemical
METHOD OF TYPE OF COMPOUND NEEDED glowing white
SEPARATION MIXTURE FOR SEPARATION
Table 3.0 Changes of matter upon heating
Sublimation Solid-solid Molar heat of
sublimation Table 3.1 shows that both iron and Mg ribbon
Solvent Liquid-liquid Immiscibility performs chemical change in both reagents, HCl
Extraction and Polarity of and FeCl3
Liquids
Adsorption Solid-Liquid Surface Area, SUBSTANCE WITH 0.1 M WITH FeCl3
Polarity, HCl
Particle Size Iron chemical Chemical
Table 1.1 Physical Separation Mg ribbon chemical Chemical

Part B. When 0.1 M HCl was added to each of the Discussion

substances, it was found out that Fe and Mg are As stated in the first part, matter is anything
metallic. Table 2.0 shows these results. that occupies space and has mass. The
classifications of matter include substances,
SUBSTANCE REACTION CLASSIFICATION mixtures, elements and compounds, as well as
WITH 0.1M HCl
atoms and molecules.
Fe Gas Metallic
formation
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Chem 14.1: Characteristics of Matter
 This experiment focuses on mixtures. A addition of 0.1 M HCl produced bubbles in Fe and
mixture is a combination of two or more substances Mg, as seen in Table 2.0; thus, they are metallic.
in which the substances retain their distinct
identities (Chang, 2002). Examples are air, milk, Guide Questions and Answers
and cement. Mixture may either be heterogeneous
or homogeneous. Heterogenous mixtures are not Part B
uniform in composition while homogenous mixtures
have a uniform, however, not definite composition. 1. Among those classified as metals, which is
Since mixtures are physically combined, they can the most reactive with 0.1 M HCl?
be separated by physical means too: filtration, Mg.
evaporation, sublimation, decatation and many 2. Complete and balance the ff:
others. The setup made in Part A Section 1 is an a. MgO(s) + H2O → Mg(OH)2
example of a heterogeneous mixture. b. SO2 (g) + H2O → H2SO3
The first method of separation by physical
means is by using a magnet. A magnet is any piece Part C
of iron or steel that has the property of attracting
iron or other metals. By passing the magnet 1. Based on the reactions with 0.1 M HCl and
underneath the piece of paper with the mixture, the FeCl3, which is more reactive, Mg or Fe?
iron fillings were attracted to the magnet and were Mg ribbon.
then separated. 2. What is the composition of the filtrate in A
Filtration was used in the next setup. #3b?
Filtration is a ****. The liquid is called the filtrate Water and salt
while the solid material on the filter paper is called 3. Complete and balance:
the residue. When water was added to the mixture, a. 2Fe + 6HCl → 2FeCl3 + 3H2
some substances in the mixture dissolved thus
b. Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
separating them from the insoluble substances.
Sublimation then followed. It is process in c. 2Mg + 2FeCl3 → 2MgCl2 + 2Fe
which molecules go directly from the solid into the
vapor phase. Heat was applied to make one of the References:
mixture components sublime. The inverted funnel http://orgchem.colorado.edu/hndbksupport/filt/filtrati
with perforated filter paper placed on top of the on.html
evaporating dish served as the place where the
sublimed vapor cooled and turned back to its solid http://www.lenntech.com/library/adsorpti
state. Deposits were found on the perforated filter on/adsorption.htm
and were identified as naphthalene while the
remaining residue was found out to be magnesium
strips.
When the filtrate with activated charcoal ***hi patching ulit***
was filtered, NaCl solution was separated from
activated charcoal with food coloring. This process
is called asdorption. Adsorption is a process where
a solid is used for removing a soluble substance
from the water. In this process active carbon is the
adsorbate because it was porous and has a large
surface area (between 500 - 1500 m2/g) while food
coloring was the adsorbent.

*******hi patching******

PART B. Analysis of the Components of the Mixture

After separation, the components of the

mixture will have the same composition and
properties as they did to start with. Components are
further classified: In Part B of this experiment,

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Chem 14.1: Characteristics of Matter