Murder Investigation Lab

On Wednesday in class, we did a lab about finding the molarity of aqueous solutions. We were given some details about a theoretical murder case, and the list of possible suspects, and we had to determine who the murderer was. In order to do this, first we combined 20mL of the unknown substance with 40mL of NaCl and the reaction produced a solid. Here is a website about precipitation reactions like this, just for some review: Precipitation Reactions. Next, we filtered the solution to get the solid out. Once we had it completely filtered and it had dried, we weighed the filter paper to find the mass of the solid. From there, we had everything we needed to find molarity and determine the murderer. Overall, this lab was really helpful because it allowed us to practice finding molarity with an actual real life problem, instead of just practice ones. I now have a much better understanding and capability of how to do this. Here is a link to the only information we were given for this lab: Murder Lab

The solution while it was being filtered through the paper and funnel.

The filter paper with the solid in it, after it had dried.

Molarity

This past week in class, we have been focusing on morality. The equation to find a substances molarity, divide the moles of the solute by the liters of the solution. Although, volume is temperature dependent, so molarity can change with temperature. Here is a website I found explaining the basics of calculating molarity: Finding molarity

We also learned about the concentration of ions in a solution and the Van't Hoff factor. This is the number of ions that a compound will contribute to a solution (i). The Van't Hoff factor for covalent compounds is always 1. Here is another website I found, this one explaining the factor: Van't Hoff factor.

Lastly, we learned about dilutions. To find molarity of volume in a dilution, use the formula M1V1= M2V2. In a dilution, the high concentration substance is the stock and the low concentration substance is the making. An aliquot is a small amount of a starting solution. Here is another website, this one explaining dilutions and their equation: Dilutions

Solution Composition

Solutions are made up of two distinct parts: the solute and the solvent. The solvent is whatever part is present in the largest quantity. The solute is whatever is dissolved into the solvent. Here are some examples of how to identify which is which in a solution:

-Chlorine tablets in a swimming pool: 

Solute: tablets

Solvent: H20

-Sugar and kool-aid mix in water:

Solute: sugar and kool-aid

Solvent: H20

-Cigarette smoke in air:

Solute: smoke particles

Solvent: air

-Sodium chloride in water:

Solute: NaCl

Solvent: H20

There is a limit to how much solute can be dissolved into any solvent. The solution can either be unsaturated, saturated, or supersaturated. Most solvents hold more solute at higher temperatures. 

"Good to the Last Drop" Lab

Yesterday in class, we completed a lab having to do with finding the concentration of different dilutions using molarity and volume.

We started out with 10mL of water in a cup and then added red food dye to it. Then we took 1mL of that solution and put it in a new cup, filled with 9mL of un-colored water. We then repeated this 3 more times. Here is what the set-up of the lab looked like:

Each time we moved 1mL of the old dilution to a new cup with water, the dilution became clearer and clearer, creating a cool ombre effect. Here is what all the cups of water looked like after we were done:

Here is a helpful website that I found to help with calculating concentrations and also explaining what dilutions are: Dilutions