There are millions and millions of compounds in existence, and so the obvious question is how is one told from

the other? One of the most common methods of determining the identity of a compound is by calculating its melting point. The melting point of an element or compound is the temperature at which it transforms from a solid to a liquid. Every object in the universe has its own unique melting point, which depends upon the characteristics of the elements it is made up of. Metals have higher melting points than nonmetals, and metalloids are in between. Take the compound aluminum potassium sulfate for example. To ascertain its melting point all one would need is a source of heat, a thermometer and some alum. Place the alum in the water, heat the water, and when the alum is visibly liquid, record the melting point (Alum is often used shaving cream, fire extinguishers, and baking soda because of its antibacterial properties, resistance to fire, and its acidity in water). Similar techniques for recording melting points exist, including the use a thiele tube, or plotting a time vs. temp graph. There are many reasons why one would want to confirm the identity of a compound. Though in all simplicity, it is to validate that the element or compound in possession, is the one that is desired. After final analysis of the data, the results confirmed that the substance was truly aluminum potassium sulfate, or alum.