Question

After conducting an experiment, you isolated four compounds. In trying to identify the compounds, you determine the following:

Compound / ElecCond / Boiling / Melting / Water sol / Hexane sol
Unknown 1/ ? / 1330 ∘C / 681 ∘C / Soluble / Not soluble
Unknown 2/ Strongly / ? / 858 ∘C / Soluble / Not soluble
Unknown 3/ ? / −47.6 ∘C /−185.2 ∘C / Not soluble / Soluble
Unknown 4/ No / 76.72 ∘C/−22.92 ∘C / ? / Soluble

Using the experimental results given in the table, classify the unknown compounds based on whether they are likely to be ionic or molecular.

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Unknown 1

Unknown 2

Unknown 3

Unknown 4

Ionic compounds

Molecular compounds

Answer 1

Ionic compounds have higher melting and boiling points and can conduct electricity when molten, while molecular compounds have lower melting and boiling points and do not conduct electricity.

Step-by-step explanation:

You can often recognize ionic compounds because of their properties. Ionic compounds are solids that typically melt at high temperatures and boil at even higher temperatures. In solid form, an ionic compound is not electrically conductive because its ions are unable to flow. When molten, however, it can conduct electricity because its ions are able to move freely through the liquid. On the other hand, molecular compounds have lower melting and boiling points compared to ionic compounds. They do not conduct electricity in either solid or liquid form. The water solubility of molecular compounds depends on the type of intermolecular forces involved.