#5 Entry- Experiment: Creating a Compound

Today we had practical and did a very interesting experiment that took my knowledge of Chemistry up by one notch.

The experiment required us to deal with iron fillings and sulphur powder, mix them together (mixture), heat them, (chemical reactions take place) and form a compound.

Aims
1. To observe and compare the properties of compounds and mixtures made up of the same *constituent elements.
2. Thus, infer some common characteristics of mixtures and compounds that can be used to distinguish them.
*Constituent=being part of a whole

Part A
First,  we had to observe the appearance of the 2 elements that we were dealing with.
Iron filings: Silvery grey powder
Sulfur powder: Yellow powder

We then poured one spatula of sulfur powder and ion filings onto a piece of filter paper. Next, we mixed them together. At this point in time, the iron filings and sulfur powder formed a mixture. After that, we used a magnet to try to separate the iron filings and the sulfur powder. Finally, we poured the mixture into a test tube of water.

Discoveries:
1. The mixture will not and did not feel hot when I felt the bottom of the filter paper as no chemical reaction is taking place.
2. The magnet was able to separate the iron filings and the sulfur power.
3. When poured in water, the iron filings sunk to the bottom of the test tube, however, the sulfur powder floated above. Reason: The iron filings are denser then the sulfur powder.
4. The iron filings and the sulfur powder act as separate substances.
5. The mixture retains the chemical properties of the constituent substances.

End Result:

Part B
In the second part of the experiment, we were required to heat up another mixture of iron filings and sulfur powder.

The mixture was poured into a crucible which we heated using a bunsen burner. It was a good recap on how to use the bunsen burner, as well as to practice safety in handling flammable substances. (***sulfur is flammable***)

The mixture when heated, gave out a foul smell. We later learned that this smell was produced by sulfur as it burns readily in air, to produce a poisonous gas, sulfur dioxide.

Everyone was covering her nose by the time we started heating!

Later, when I removed the crucible from the bunsen burner, I dropped it and it cracked. I realised that I may not have let it cooled long enough, and Mr Foo pointed out that the expansion and sudden contraction may have caused it to crack.

While Heating:

Discoveries:
1. Compound: Chemically combined, loses its constituent substances' properties. It has different physical properties.
2. A compound cannot be separated by physical means.
3. Chemical reaction takes place when a compound is formed when there is an energy change.

That was all for the experiment!

Reflection:
I learn a fair bit from today's simple, yet beneficial experiment. We had to adhere the lab safety rules, and also got to learn how compounds were formed, personally. I feel that it is easier to understand the lessons on elements, compounds and mixtures after we had conducted today's experiment.

Next lesson: Separation Techniques, (Atomic Structure?)

Oh, and finally...

Safety Goggles!