Group Synthesis Essay

Words: 1422
Pages: 6

As shown in Table 1, the unknown substance was observed to be composed of clear particles with a crystal-like structure. The group noted that the unknown substance had no odor and when dissolved in water had a pH of 6 (Cooper). The crystal-like structure and the pH level led the group to infer that the compound was a slightly acidic, salt (ionic compound).
A qualitative solubility test was then performed where the group found that the unknown substance was soluble in water as in indicated in Table 2. This solubility led the group to infer that the unknown substance was a polar or ionic compound (Cooper).
The group then performed a quantitative solubility test. Due to the high solubility of the unknown compound, the group had to perform multiple
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To confirm this, the group performed two tests: a double-displacement test and gravimetric analysis. The double displacement test was performed to confirm that the chloride ion was in fact present in the substance. To do this, the group produced an insoluble salt (AgCl) through double displacement as shown in Table 8. This precipitate reaction was a positive result for the double displacement test and did confirm for the group that the unknown substance did include chloride. The gravimetric analysis test was then ran, as shown in Table 9, to confirm that the molecular weight of the group’s unknown substance was equivalent to the molecular weight of magnesium chloride. The unknown and known substances molecular weights were very similar so the group confirmed that the unknown substance was indeed magnesium chloride.
Once the identity of the unknown substance was determined to be magnesium chloride, the group devised two syntheses of the compound. The group was able to theoretically produce a reaction that created magnesium chloride and calcium nitrate from magnesium sulfate and ammonium chloride. Another theoretical reaction produced magnesium chloride and ammonium sulfate from magnesium carbonate and sodium chloride. The reaction using magnesium carbonate and sodium chloride as the reactants is the safest reaction to use and the most cost