CULMINATING: ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Students will work in groups of 3 or 4. Each group will choose a different type of
organic compound that was discussed in class. The types were: hydrocarbons,
ketones, aldehydes, esters, carboxylic acids, ethers, and alcohols. No two groups
may do the same type of organic compound. Group members are responsible for
their own lab report. Plagiarism will result in a mark of ZERO!
The group will decide on a common product that falls in this category of organic
compound and test its various properties, and the impact it has on the environment.
The group members are expected to come up with a lab proposal first to be
approved. This lab approval needs to include the following:
- a detailed introduction outlining the purpose, hypothesis, and basic details of
the lab (this introduction may be changed after observing final results) /2
- DETAILED materials list (eg. 4 scoopulas, 5 g of NaCl, etc)
/2
- DETAILED procedure (I need to be able to read it and know exactly what you
will be doing in class)
/3
Once your proposal has been approved, you will be given one period of class time
to execute your lab.
The properties that you should be testing, and include in your observations, are the
following:
- reaction with water (do they mix or not?)
- reaction with oil (do they mix or not?)
- odour (make sure to WAFT!)
- colour
- optical clarity
- brittleness
- electrical conductivity
- and any other that may apply to your substance (hardness, flexibility, etc)
You will then apply a DILUTE solution of your compound to a representation of an
ecosystem (terrestrial or aquatic). Over the course of 1 week, you will record the
impact it has on that ecosystem (either written and/or pictures). This will also be
included in your observation chart.
You are responsible for a formal lab report (using the criteria outlined at the
beginning of the course). This formal lab should include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
a title page
an introduction (possible revised)
your materials (possibly revised)
your procedure (possibly revised if changes had to be made during the lab)
an observation chart
6. conclusion
7. references (minimum of 2 good references in MLA or APA format)
8. answer analysis questions (provided below)
MARK BREAKDOWN
Proposal (TI)
Title page (TI)
Introduction (A)
Materials (TI)
Procedure (TI)
Observation chart (TI)
Conclusion (A)
References (TI)
Analysis (A)
TOTAL:
7 marks
4 marks
2 marks
2 mark
2 marks
12 marks
3 marks
3 marks
15 marks
50 marks
Analysis Questions
1. Was there an impact on your environment? If there was, discuss how this
could be the result of a chemical reaction. Show a sample of what the
reaction could be, and why this affected your environment.
/4
2. How does this lab reflect current environmental issues?
/3
3. In the future, if you had access to any equipment, would you change your lab?
Explain.
/3
4. What were your sources of error in this lab?
/2
5. How do you think your results would have been different if you applied a
concentration solution of your compound to your environment? Explain why
(using what you know about concentration vs. dilute solutions).
/3
Here are some options:
Hydrocarbons: oils, butane, wax, grease
Ketones: acetone, fructose (sugar in fruits)
Aldehydes: Citronellal (in citronella oil), and formaldehyde
Esters: oil of wintergreen, aspirin
carboxylic acids: aspirin
ethers: dimethyl ether, diethyl ether (they explode… may not be able to order)
alcohols: rubbing alcohol,