Chemical Bond Types Lab
Name _________________________
Date _______________ Per. ______
Purpose: To observe characteristics of ionic and covalent bonds and to classify compounds as ionic or
covalent based on those observations.
Safety:
 Wear goggles.
 Do not taste or touch any chemicals.
Materials
 Test tubes
 Thin stem pipets
 Conductivity probe
 Iron ring and stand
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Follow guidelines pertaining to an open
flame.
Candle with foil holder
Copper foil
Calcium chloride
Citric acid
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Phenyl salicylate
Potassium iodide
Sodium chloride
Sucrose
Procedure:
1. Write a brief description of each of the 6 substances in your data table. Use the magnifying glass – is
the substance made of neat crystals or irregular shapes? What is its color? Does it have an odor?
2. Testing melting point
 Place the copper foil on the iron
ring. Position the ring so it is just
above the tip of a candle flame, as
shown in Figure A. Light the
candle to check that you have the
correct height. Pull the candle
out from under the foil.
 Place a few crystals sucrose,
sodium chloride, phenyl
salicylate, calcium chloride, citric
acid and potassium iodide in
separate locations around the
copper foil as shown in Figure B.
Do not allow the crystals to touch.
 Place the candle under the middle of the copper and heat for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes blow out
the candle and let the copper cool.
 In the data table rank the first compound that melts as 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . etc. If a compound doesn’t
melt record N/A.
3. Testing the solubility in water.
 Place a few crystals of each substance in test tube. Add about 1 mL of distilled water (a pinky
width) and agitate.
 Record the solubility in the data table (Yes – if it dissolves, No – if it does not dissolve).
4. Your teacher will demonstrate the conductivity of each substance in water.
Cleanup
 Rinse all test tubes with water and scrub with a test tube brush.
 Rinse off the copper foil and scrub with a test tube brush. Dry with a clean cloth.
 Wash hands and put away goggles.
Data Table
Compound
Description
Melting Point
(1, 2, 3, 4, N/A)
Solubility in
Water (Y/N)
Conductivity
Calcium
chloride
Citric acid
Phenyl
salicylate
Potassium
iodide
Sodium
chloride
Sucrose
Conclusions
1. Based on the formulas of the compounds, which contained ionic bonds? Which contained covalent
bonds? Explain your reasoning.
2. Based on these classifications and your data, describe the typical properties – odor, appearance, solubility
in water, and conductivity in solution – of ionic and covalent compounds.
3. Using the patterns established in this experiment and the information in your notes, predict the properties
– odor, appearance, solubility in water, conductivity in solution, and high/low melting point – of carbon
disulfide. Explain how you reached these conclusions.