Name ____________________________________________Date _____________ Class______
Ionic or Covalent Bonding Lab
Purpose: Some properties may be useful to predict the type of bonding in a substance. These
properties are: phase at room temperature, melting point, solubility in water, and electrical
conductivity. In this experiment you will find how some of these properties vary in ionic and
covalently bonded substances.
Materials:
1 cup of each salt (NaCl) and sugar (C6H12O6)
1 200 mL beaker Distilled Water
1 graduated cylinder
1 magnifying glass
1 stirring rod
1 pink spoon
2 clear plastic cups
1 strip of copper
1 strip of zinc
1 9Volt battery
3 wires with clips
Procedure:
1.) Place 2 scoops Sugar into a clear plastic cup.
2.) Label the cup C6H12O6
3.) Place 2 scoops of Salt into a different clear plastic cup.
4.) Label the cup NaCl
5.) Observe the sugar and salt with a magnifying glass (You may also touch but DO NOT
TASTE)
6.) In the data table record your observations. Describe the look and feel
7.) With a graduated cylinder, measure 50mL of distilled water and pour it into the cup with the
sugar.
8.) Use the stirring rod to mix the samples (for about 1 minute) so that it has a chance to
dissolve in the water. Wipe the stirring rod when done.
9.) With a graduated cylinder, measure 50mL of distilled water and pour it into the cup with the
salt. Use the stirring rod to mix the samples (for about 1 minute) so that it has a chance to
dissolve in the water. Wipe the stirring rod when done.
Determine which substance is soluble. HINT: which substances dissolved in the water
and which did not? Record this in the data table under “solubility”. Be sure to describe to
what extent a substance dissolves: not at all, partially, or completely.
10.)Engineer a conductivity tester using the copper and zinc strips as electrodes. DO NOT PUT
ELECTRODESS IN THE SOLUTION YET! Touch
the electrodes together…Did the light bulb light up? If
not, check your connections.
11.) Insert the electrodes into the sugar water. Do not let
the electrodes touch each other.
12.) Did the sugar water conduct electricity? Record
your results.
13.) Insert the electrodes into the salt water. Again, do
not let the electrodes touch each other.
14.) Did the salt water conduct electricity? Record your results.
Name ____________________________________________Date _____________ Class______
Substance
Physical Description at room temperature
Observations
Solubility
not at all,
partially, or
completely
Electrical
Conductivity
Yes or no
Melting
Point
Sugar
C6H12O6
185 OC
Table Salt
NaCl
708 OC
Type of Bond
(Ionic or Covalent)
Conclusion Questions:
1.) Using your data, notes, and book - what properties do covalent compound substances have?
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________________
2.) Using your data, notes, and book - what properties do ionic compounds have?
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________________
4.) What kind of elements generally form covalent compounds? ____________________________
5) What kind of elements generally form ionic compounds? _______________________________