Reactions Lab – Introduction to Solubility Rules
Chemists often have to work with many materials that have similar appearances to one another. White
powders, clear liquids, and brown metals are just a few of the material that chemists work with that can
be difficult to identify. However, observing what happens to chemicals when they are mixed is a way
that chemists can identify unknown substances. The rules of solubility help to determine what chemicals
are what and how they react together. Today’s lab is designed to introduce the idea that certain
chemicals react with one another and some do not, and thereby properties can be determined from
how it reacts.
Procedure
Utilizing solutions A-F, use the reaction grid to perform each reaction by mixing one to two drops of
each solution together on the reaction grid. Record detailed observations. When finished, all reactions
can be washed down the sink.
A
B
C
D
E
A
XXXXX
B
XXXXX
XXXXX
C
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
D
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
E
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
F
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
F
XXXXX
The solutions are as follows. They contain the chemical dissolved in water.
ABCDEF-
Calcium chloride
Sodium hydroxide
Magnesium sulfate
Acetic acid
Lead (II) nitrate
Potassium iodide
With the results from your experiment above, answer the following questions.
1. Which of the solutions was the most reactive (which formed the most precipitates?)
2. Which of the solutions was the least reactive (which formed the least precipitates?)
3. What other ways can evidence of a reaction be seen? Describe one of them in detail.
4. Other labs this year have involved the observation of the formation of a precipitate. Do you
believe that this application could be utilized to better explain the water testing lab? Explain
why.