Chem 11
Purpose:
Reactions Lab
To study and write equations for various physical and chemical equations.
Be careful, some of the chemicals are poisonous and others are corrosive!
Part A Acid-Carbonate Reactions
1. Fill a large test tube to about 5cm with HCl(aq). Add a small amount of Na2CO3(s) and
observe the results. Test the gas that is given off with limewater and make an
observation. A cloudy white formation indicates CO2(g). Write a balanced equation for
this reaction. A salt and water is produced as well as gas. Include phase symbols! This is
called an acid-carbonate reaction.
Bubbles turn the limewater cloudy
2. Repeat the above using H2SO4(aq) instead of HCl(aq). Write a balanced equation to
describe the reaction including phase symbols.
Bubbles turn the limewater cloudy
3. Repeat the above using H2SO4(aq) and K2CO3(s). Write a balanced equation to describe
the reaction including phase symbols.
Bubbles turn the limewater cloudy
4. The value of scientific experiments and theories is that they allow you to predict and
explain other processes without doing the experiment. Use what you learned about acid
carbonate reactions to predict the reaction between BaCO3(s) (the milk in the
water/wine/milk/beer demo) and HCl(aq). Write a balanced equation to describe the
reaction including phase symbols.
B. OTHER REACTIONS
1 Heat a clean piece of copper wire in a Bunsen burner flame for 3 seconds (use tongs!).
Do not burn the table top with the hot copper. Observe the wire and write a balanced
equation to describe the reaction including phase symbols. Heat is not a reactant;
however, you can show it as a triangle on the top of the arrow. The other reactant is
something in the air. What is the general name for this type of reaction? Is this a chemical
or physical process- did you get anything new?
A black solid formed on the copper.
2. Fill a large test tube with HCl(aq) to about 5 cm. Add a small piece of Mg(s). Test the gas
with a burning (on fire) splint and make an observation. Write a balanced equation to
describe the reaction including phase symbols. What is the general name for this type of
reaction? Is this a chemical or physical process?
Bubbles were produced that caused a burning splint to pop.
3. Add a small amount of copper II sulphate to a large test tube. Add about 5 cm of water
and heat with a Bunsen burner until the copper sulphate dissolves. Caution: It will only
take a few seconds. Watch the test-tube to ensure that it does not over boil. Write an
equation for this process. Is it a physical or chemical process? What is the name for this
process (save the solution for #4)
The copper II sulphate dissolves in the water.
4. Clean an iron nail with steel wool. Add the nail to CuSO4(aq) and make an observation.
Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase symbols. Is the
reaction chemical or physical? What is the name for this type of reaction?
Orange/black solid forms on the nail.
5. Fill a test tube to about 5 cm with water. Add 5 drops of phenolphthalein- an indicator
that shows a base by turning pink. Add 5 drops of NaOH(aq) to the test tube. What kind of
compound is NaOH(aq)? Add HCl drop-wise to the test tube until the solution is
transparent. Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase symbols.
What is the name for this type of reaction? Note: phenolphthalein does not take part in
the reaction.
NaOH turns phenolphthalein pink.
6. Fill a test tube to about 5 cm with water. Add a small amount of solid Na2CO3. Heat
until the salt dissolves. Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase
symbols. Is this a chemical or physical reaction? Save the solution for 8!
Sodiun carbonate dissolves in the water and forms a clear solution.
7. Fill a test tube to about 5 cm with water. Add a small amount of solid Ca(NO3)2. Heat
until the salt dissolves. Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase
symbols. Is this a chemical or physical reaction? Save the solution for 8!
Calcium nitrate dissolves in the water and forms a clear solution.
8. Mix solutions 6 and 7 and record the results. Write a balanced equation to describe the
reaction including phase symbols. What is the general name for this type of reaction?
Save solution for 9!
A white precipitate forms.
9. Add 10.0 ml of 6.0 M hydrochloric acid to the solution. Record the result. Write a
balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase symbols.
The white precipitate dissolves and buubles are produced.
10. Fill a test tube to about 5 cm with H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide). Add a tiny amount of
manganese (IV) oxide (Note: manganese (IV) oxide is a catalyst in this reaction). Test the
gas with a glowing splint and record the results. The other reaction product is a common
liquid. Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase symbols. The
catalyst in a reaction is written over the arrow.
Bubbles are produced that cause a glowing splint to reignite.
11. Have your instructor put a small amount of C3H8 (propane) and oxygen in a test-tube.
Stopper the test-tube. Remove the stopper and immediately light the top of the test -tube
with a burning splint. Write a balanced equation to describe the reaction including phase
symbols.
Explosion
12. Go over this lab and make sure you have done the following.
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All equations are balanced
All formulas are correct
All formulas have phase symbols
All questions are answered