Final answer:
To distinguish between sodium chloride and strontium chloride, you can test their solubility in water at different temperatures, conduct a flame test to see the characteristic colors they emit, or use infrared spectroscopy to examine their spectral signatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To distinguish between sodium chloride (NaCl) and strontium chloride (SrCl₂), several methods can be employed.
One straightforward method is to compare their solubility in water. At 20°C, sodium chloride has a solubility of 35.7 g per 100 mL of water, while strontium chloride’s solubility is 53.8 g per 100 mL.
Heating to 100°C changes these figures to 100.8 g for NaCl and 39.12 g for SrCl₂, indicating a significant difference in solubility with temperature change.
Consequently, a simple solubility test at different temperatures can be used to identify each compound.
Alternatively, a flame test can be conducted to observe the color emitted when the compound is heated in a flame. Sodium ions produce a characteristic yellow color, whereas strontium ions emit a red color.
Another method would be to perform infrared spectroscopy to compare the unique spectral signatures of the two compounds.