Finding Unknown Solutions

28th March 2012

Sophie Woodcock, Sarah Bowler, Maud Beach

Aim
To investigate the unknown substances, X and Y by combining them with eight other known
chemicals to find out what precipitates and what doesnt to determine the safest way of disposing
them. X and Y could be a combination of the anion and cations of the eight known substances. These
substances are aluminium sulphate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, ammonium bicarbonate,
magnesium chloride, zinc (II) nitrate, potassium iodide and calcium nitrate.
Background Information
A precipitation reaction occurs when two soluble reactants combine to form an insoluble product
known as a precipitate. A substance is said to be soluble if it dissolves. For example, sugar is soluble
in water, as it dissolves. A substance is insoluble if it does not dissolve, i.e. chalk is insoluble in water
as it does not dissolve. (Pearson, 2012) The precipitate formed by the combination of the anions
and cations is called an ionic compound which is a crystalline substance that is made up of a crystal
lattice. Ionic compounds are usually hard, brittle and can be brightly coloured.

Table of Precipitation Rules, (Pearsons, 2012)
Materials
- .1 M solutions of eight trail substances (only about 25mL of these substances was used):
Aluminium sulphate
Sodium phosphate
Finding Unknown Solutions
28th March 2012
Sophie Woodcock, Sarah Bowler, Maud Beach

Sodium hydroxide
Ammonium bicarbonate
Magnesium chloride
Zinc (II) nitrate
Potassium iodide
Calcium nitrate
X solution
Y solution
- Dropping plate
- Eye dropper
- Spatula
Method
1. Three drops of solution into the dropping plate well
2. Add three drops of second solution
3. Record results
4. Repeat until all solutions are tested
Results
*see table*
Analysis of Results
X cationXanionX = Ammonium Phosphate
Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
+ cationXanionX cationX(SO
4
)
3
+Al
2
anionX
Precipitate: Al
2
anionX
Options: Hydroxide, Phosphate, Sulfide
MgCl
2
+ cationXanionX cationXCl
2
+ MganoinX
Precipitate: MganoinX
Options: Hyrdoxide, Phosphate
Zn(NO
3
)
2
+ cationXanionX cationX(NO
3
)
2
+ ZnanoinX
Precipitate: ZnanoinX
Options: Hyrdoxide, Phosphate, Sulfide
Ca(NO
3
)
2
+ cationXanionX cationX(NO
3
)
2
+ CaanoinX
Precipitate: CaanoinX
Finding Unknown Solutions
28th March 2012
Sophie Woodcock, Sarah Bowler, Maud Beach

Options: Hydroxide, Phosphate, Sulfate
Y cationYanionY = Calcium Chloride
Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
Low solubility: Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb
Na
3
PO
4
+ cationYanionY cationYPO
4
+ Na
3
anionY
Al
Mg
Zn
Ca
NaOH + cationYanionY cationYOH + NaanionY
Al
Mg
Zn
Ca
Balanced Chemical Equations
Aluminium Sulphate and sodium phosphate - Al2(SO4)3 + 2Na3PO4 --> 2AlPO4(s) + 3Na2SO4
Sodium Phosphate and Magnesium Chloride- 2Na3PO4 + 3MgCl2 = 6NaCl + Mg3(PO4)2
Sodium Phosphate and Zinc(II) Nitrate- Zn(NO
3
)
2
+ Na
3
PO
4
yields Zn
3
(PO
4
)
2
+ NaNO
3
Sodium Phosphate and Calcium Nitrate- 2Na3PO4 + 3Ca(NO3)2--->6NaNO3 + Ca3(PO4)2
Sodium Hydroxide and Magnesium Chloride- 2NaOH
(aq)
+ MgCl
2(aq)
--> 2NaCl
(aq)
+ Mg(OH)
2(s)

Sodium Hydroxide and Calcium Nitrate - Ca(NO
3
)
2
+ Na
2
CO
3
---> CaCO
3
+ NaNO
3


Discussion
The accuracy of our experiment was degraded by using a white dropping plate, as it was the same
colour of all the precipitate which made it hard to tell whether or not the solution precipitated or
not. That is why a spatula was used to determine whether or not the chemical solution precipitated.
A better way of determining the precipitates would be to use larger amounts of the solutions are
mixed together in a glass test tube so it could be held up in to the light to see whether or not it
precipitates. Also by using larger amounts of solution, the precipitate would have been more
obvious and clear.
When identifying the unknown substance X, much trouble was encountered, as there were
multiple options for what it could have been. Perhaps when doing the experiment next time, a more
easily identifiable ionic compound could be used. What would also be advisable is to not lose the
labels for the unknown chemicals in the first place and then there would not be a problem.
PRECIPITATE Soluble
Soluble
PRECIPITATE
Possibilities:
- Calcium Sulphate
- Calcium Chloride
Calcium Sulphate: LOW SOLUBILITY
Calcium Chloride: SOLUBLE!
Finding Unknown Solutions
28th March 2012
Sophie Woodcock, Sarah Bowler, Maud Beach

If deciding to redo the experiment in future, it would be advisable to use larger amounts of the
solutions, so as to see a larger, more easily seen precipitate that could be identified. Also, if using the
larger amounts, by placing them in a clear glass test tube, there would be less chance of spilling the
solution, and the results of the mixing would be easily determined.
Conclusion
It has been discovered, after testing for precipitates with eight other known chemicals X and Y, that
X is ammonium phosphate ((NH
4
)
3
PO
4
) and Y is calcium chloride (CaCl
2
). This was determined by
working with the information provided by the precipitates of the eight unknown substances and
testing them against the two unknowns. The two chemicals can now be disposed of in a safe and
reliable manner.
Bibliography
About.com. (2012). About.com Chemistry: How to Write a Lab Report. Retrieved April 19, 2012, from
About.com: http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistrylabexperiments/a/labreports.htm
Pearsons. (2012). Pearson Science 10. Australia: Pearson Australia.
Wikipedia. (2012). Wikipedia, Various Pages. Retrieved March-April 2012, from Wikipedia:
http://www.wikipedia.org/