Polar vs. Nonpolar Lab
MAKE-UP Version
#1 Bending Water
Answer Questions on Write-up Form
Instructions: Use the PVC pipe and rub it against the provided material. Open the
buret to release the water. Hold the PVC pipe next to the water.
MAKE-UP: Use a plastic comb, or a blown up balloon. Rub against your hair. Turn on
sink faucet to produce a very small stream of water. Hold item against water. Watch!
1a. Describe your observations:
1d. Draw a water molecule and label the partial
positive and partial negative ends.
1b. Compare your observations with
the water to the earlier
demonstration with hexane. Hexane
is a hydrocarbons, C6H14. (DEMO –
the Hexane did NOT bend)
Partial positive: δ+ and Partial negative: δ-
#2 Sharpie & Acetone Bending Water
1c. What explains the different
observations?
Instructions: Attempt to remove the permanent marker mark from the glass with
water. Then use acetone.
MAKE-UP: Try this with fingernail polish remover.
2a. Describe your observations with
the water:
2c. Acetone is shown below. Draw the molecule
and label the bonds in the molecule that contain
polar bonds, and contain nonpolar bonds.
2b. Describe your observations with
the acetone:
2d. Overall, is acetone more polar or nonpolar?
Give evidence to support your answer.
#3 Polystyrene & Acetone
(wear gloves)
Instructions: Place a small piece of Styrofoam in the round watch glass. Place a few drops of
acetone onto the Styrofoam. Watch!
MAKE-UP: Styrofoam and Acetone VIDEO
Polystyrene Peanuts are a
Polystyrene contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
long chain of styrene
Acetone primarily contains carbon and hydrogen atoms.
molecules – a Polymer.
3a. The term “Like Dissolves Like” can be used to explain the
Acetone
observed reaction. What does this phrase mean (use terms
“polar” and “nonpolar”)? Use your observations to support
your answer.
Hint: Look at the polystyrene in water.
Polystyrene: A polymer
Benzene:
The six sided ring with the circle is a benzene ring. Each corner is a carbon atom, and each
carbon has a hydrogen (for the 4th bond on carbon).
Is polystyrene POLAR or NONPOLAR? Just C & H’s
#4 Oil, Water, & Soap
Instructions: Place about 3 mL of the colored water into a test tube. Place about 1 mL of oil into
the tube. Observe. Next place a piece of wax paper over the top of the tube and mix the contents.
Let sit and observe. Next place 2-3 drops of dish soap into the test tube. Again cover the top and
mix. Let sit and observe.
MAKE-UP: Do this at home in a small clear container. Increase amounts to be able to see the layers.
Typical Soap Molecule:
4a. Observations after adding oil to water:
Soap primarily contains carbons and hydrogens,
but one end contains oxygen. The ends have
different polarities.
4b. After mixing oil & water:
4c. After mixing the oil & water with dish soap:
4d. Explain what soap did to the oil and water
mixture. What does polarity have to do with it?
#5 Water, Hexane & NaCl
Instructions: (wear gloves) Place a small amount of water in the petri dish. Dissolve “a pinch” of
NaCl in the water. Next place a small amount of hexane in a separate petri dish. Place “a pinch” of
NaCl in with the hexane. Stir. MAKE-UP: Salt in Hexane Video How Water Dissolves Salt Video
Dispose of the mixtures in the labeled beakers.
Illustrate proper dissolving of salt in water:
NaCl is an ionic compound – it contains a
cation and anion.
5a. Is water polar or nonpolar? What
happened to the NaCl in water?
5b. Is hexane polar or nonpolar? What
happened to the NaCl in hexane?
5c. Explain this observation!
5d. Draw two water molecules around sodium and
two water molecules around chlorine.
Na+
Cl-
(Hint:
Make sure
the partial positive and partial negative ends of water
are with the correct ion.)
MAKE-UP: The following are questions / answer stations, so no special instructions needed!
Tug-of-War
#6: Tug-of-War
What element has the higher “pull” of the electrons in the following bonds?
H-H
H-Cl
C-H
Indicate the partial positive and partial negative of each pair. Use the δ+ and δsymbols.
More pull = high electronegativity
HONORS CHEMISTRY
#7: Textbook Questions
HONORS CHEMISTRY STATION #7
Chapter 8, pg 270.
Answer questions:
#75
#76
#77
GENERAL CHEMISTRY STATION #7
#10: Methane
#9: Ammonia
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
#8: Diatomic
Molecules
#7: Textbook Questions
Chapter 8, pg 275.
Answer questions:
Draw the Lewis Diagrams for the
7 common Diatomic Molecules
See your list of “Memorize These!”
Identify them as Polar or Nonpolar.
Most of the produced ammonia is used in fertilizer. It is also used as a
household cleaner. It is known for its streak free shine, so is used for cleaning
windows and removing baked on grime.
Draw the Lewis Dot Structure for ammonia.
Is ammonia polar or nonpolar?
Instructions: Pretend to light a Bunsen Burner (too much flammable material out
today!
Draw the Lewis Dot Structure of the
methane molecule.
Draw in the bond dipoles (the arrows).
Is methane polar or nonpolar?