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Name:___________________________________________ Date:_______________ Block:________________

 

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to correctly classify copper, lead, carbon, sulfur, zinc, silicon, and magnesium as metals, non-metals or metalloids based on their physical and chemical properties and appearance. A second purpose is to correctly identify each of the 7 elements.

 

Samples of these 7 elements will be provided as unknowns labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and G and the following tests will be performed:

 

Properties of Elements:

            Metals—malleable and ductile, generally a shiny luster, generally high melting points (several notable exceptions like Hg and Ga), generally react with acids to form hydrogen gas, generally react with solutions of silver and copper ions but some very unreactive metals fail to react with these metal ions, always conducts electricity.

 

            Non-metals—brittle (when hit with a hammer, it crushes to dust), generally non-conductive to electricity but at least one notable exception, generally low melting point (MPt) but diamond and graphite forms of carbon have high MPt, generally unreactive with acids and metal ions in solution.

 

            Metalloids—have some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals. That’s what makes them metalloids.

 

Station #1: Crush test with a hammer

            à Place each sample in a separate Ziplock bag and hit it with a hammer—against a hard surface –example clamp stand base.  Record results.

 

Station #2: Conductivity and appearance

            à Test each sample for electrical conductivity with a conductivity tester or circuit with bulb and 1.5 V battery and write down notes describing its physical appearance.

 

Station #3: Reactivity with acid CARE! (goggles)

            à Place a small amount of each substance in a separate well of the spot plate and add enough 1.0 M HCl solution to cover the sample. Record what happens.

 

Station #4: Reactivity with silver nitrate CARE! (goggles, gloves)

            à Place a small amount of each substance in a separate well of the spot plate and add three drops of AgNO3 solution to cover the sample. Record what happens.

 

For this lab, record all data in the following blank table. Set up the table for data collection by labeling the top and sides appropriately with elements and tests done to make a grid to record all observations from each test for each substance.

 

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Data Table--design your table

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Questions

 

1) Consider the results of elements A-G, group them into just two groups below and describe the common characteristics of each group that makes each group different

 

First Group:___________________________________

 

Properties that are characteristic of this group___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________           

Second Group:___________________________________

 

Properties that are characteristic of this group___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

2) Most likely, some elements do not fit perfectly well in either group listed in 1) above. Which elements do not fit well in either the 1st or 2nd group?________________________________

Describe the properties that make them a poor fit in group 1 or group 2: _____________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

3) Do a web search about the properties of the different forms of carbon: diamond and graphite. Describe at least four physical and/or chemical properties of diamond and graphite. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Complete the table and list whether elements A-G are metals, metalloids or non-metals and list their identity

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Identity of Element and which of the following category applies to which section of the Periodic Table applies:Metal, Non-metal, or Metalloid

 

Element Name

A

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B

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C

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D

 

E

 

F

 

G

 

 

5) If you could only pick 2 tests based on your results to classify elements as metals, non-metals or metalloids, which 2 would you pick and why? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Put these elements in the blank Periodic Table.  What do you notice about the positions of the elements in the first and second groups you assigned?

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Grading Rubric—total 25 points

1) (7 pts) Complete data table with correct labels and all fields filled out with results/observations.

2) (3 pts) Answer question 1 by putting the 7 elements into 2 groups and commenting on properties used

3) (2 pts) Listing elements that do not fit well and explaining why

4) (4 pts) Researching properties of carbon forms with 4 each properties for diamond and graphite

5) (7 pts) Completing table assigning a classification to each element and matching the element name to a letter

6) (2 pts) Explaining which classification tests were best based on your results.