SUMMATIVE: Identification and Separation of Metal Ions
After getting an amazing mark in 4C chemistry, you have gotten a great job as a laboratory technician in a
water quality-testing laboratory! Congratulations!
Ms. Decker has brought you some water samples from her well, because she’s worried that her water may
contain barium (Ba2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions. Ms. Decker has asked you to predict which ions may be in her
water, identify and separate the ions out of the water samples using precipitation reactions, and then verify
(check) the identity of the metal ions using flame tests.
EXPERIMENT:
Your task is to design and carry out an experimental procedure to:
1. precipitate out each of the two metal ions from the water sample
2. separate the precipitate from the liquid supernatant after each precipitation
3. verify the identity of the metal ions in the precipitates using flame tests
To conduct your precipitations, you have aqueous solutions of sodium sulphate, Na2SO4(aq), sodium hydroxide,
NaOH(aq) and sodium carbonate, NaCO3(aq).
REPORT:
For this assignment you are to complete and submit a report with the following components:







An informative title.
The purpose of the experiment, in your own words.
A list of required equipment and materials needed to complete the precipitation reactions, precipitate
separation, and flame tests.
A step by step explanation of your experimental procedure to:
o precipitate out each of the two ions
o separate the precipitates from the supernatant
o flame test the three precipitates
Balanced chemical equations for the formation of the two precipitates.
An organized set of observations for all parts of the experiment.
A clearly explained conclusion answering the original problem.
RUBRIC: Identification and Separation of Metal Ions
Categories
Level 1
(50 - 59%)
Level 2
(60 - 69%)
Knowledge and
Understanding
-explains the basic
purpose, materials
and procedures used
in qualitative
analysis of elements
and compounds.
MQ3.03
- explains the
purpose, materials
and procedures with
limited accuracy.
- explains the
- explains the
purpose, materials
purpose, materials
and procedures with
and procedures with
considerable
some accuracy.
accuracy.
- explains the
purpose, materials
and procedures with
a high degree of
accuracy.
Thinking
-conducts qualitative
analyses of an
unknown sample
using a solubility
chart and
experimental
procedures.
MQ2.04
- chooses
appropriate
solutions for each
reaction with limited
logic.
- chooses
appropriate
solutions for each
reaction with some
logic.
- chooses
appropriate
solutions for each
reaction with
considerable logic.
- chooses
appropriate
solutions for each
reaction with a high
degree of logic.
Thinking
-investigates
precipitation
reactions and flame
tests, using
qualitative analysis
instruments, and
techniques.
MQ2.03
-makes observations
and conclusions with
limited
effectiveness.
-makes observations
and conclusions
with some
effectiveness.
-makes observations
and conclusions with
considerable
effectiveness.
-makes observations
and conclusions with
a high degree of
effectiveness.
Communication
-uses appropriate
numeric, symbolic,
and graphic modes
of representation.
SI1.12
-writes balanced
-writes balanced
chemical equations
chemical equations
with limited
with some accuracy.
accuracy.
-writes balanced
chemical equations
with considerable
accuracy.
-writes balanced
chemical equations
with a high degree of
accuracy.
Application
-selects appropriate
instruments and
materials, and
identifies
appropriate
methods, and
procedures for each
inquiry.
SI1.02
-selects appropriate
instruments and
materials, and
identifies
appropriate
methods, and
procedures for each
inquiry with limited
logic and accuracy
-selects appropriate
instruments and
materials, and
identifies
appropriate
methods, and
procedures for each
inquiry with
considerable logic
and accuracy.
-selects appropriate
instruments and
materials, and
identifies
appropriate
methods, and
procedures for each
inquiry with a high
degree of logic and
accuracy.
-selects appropriate
instruments and
materials, and
identifies
appropriate
methods, and
procedures for each
inquiry with some
logic and accuracy
Level 3
(70 - 79%)
Level 4
(80 - 100%)