Lab Report: Ionic and Covalent Bonds
Purpose:
One can use the properties of chemical substances in a laboratory experiment to identify the
types of chemical bonds present in a compound.
Hypothesis:
A substance that is solid at room temperature, possesses a crystalline structure, dissolves
readily in water, and is capable of conducting electricity is more likely to have ionic bonds.
Conversely, if these characteristics are not observed, the substance is more likely to have
covalent bonds.
Variables:
Independent Variable: different substances
Dependent Variable: state of matter, appearance, texture, crystalline structure, solubility in
water, conductivity, type of bonds (covalent or ionic)
Controlled Variables: amount of substance, water stirring duration
Materials:
● five 25 mL beakers
● Spoon
● stirring rod
● 10 mL graduated cylinder
● distilled water in a wash bottle
● conductivity apparatus
● 5 mL oil
● 2 g cornstarch
● 2 g sodium chloride
● 2 g sodium bicarbonate
Produce:
(Repeat steps 1–4 for each of the following: 5 mL of oil and 2g each of cornstarch, sodium
chloride, and sodium bicarbonate.)
1. Note State and Appearance
2. Determine Solubility in Water
3. Determine Conductivity
4. Determine Whether the Substances Are Ionic or Covalent.
Data:
Analysis:
Different substances have different bonds (covalent and ionic)
This was represented in the data as the substances shared some qualities but the main rules
applied (conductivity in water).
Conclusion:
1. You can identify the types of bonds contained in a substance by comparing and contrasting
properties common in ionic and/or covalent compounds.
2. If a substance is solid at room temperature, has a crystalline structure, dissolves easily in
water and conducts electricity, then it most likely has ionic bonds, otherwise it most likely has
covalent bonds.