Communication: Report Writing

Terms Of Reference/Secondary Information/Investigation Report Plan

Solubility And Electrical Conductivity Of Ionic And Covalent Compounds
Terms Of Reference
Chemical bonding is a fundamental part of chemistry. Two types of bond are ionic and covalent.
Electronic theory is used to explain how these bonds occur. This is based on the idea that when
elements form compounds, they lose, gain, or share electrons in order to achieve stable electron
configurations similar to the next higher or lower noble gas in the periodic table.
The investigation of solubility and electrical conductivity of ionic and covalent compounds is
designed to investigate whether 5 compounds (NaCl, CuSO4,CoCl2, and KNO3, and (C6H12O6)n )
have mostly ionic or mostly covalent bonds.
This investigation may not work in the same way for more complex substances, but is suitable for
the simple compounds being investigated.
Secondary Information and Data
Ideas that form the basis of electronic theory of chemical bonding were developed by Walther
Kossel, G.N Lewis, and Irving Langmuir between 1916-1919. Quotes from articles by these
scientists regarding their ideas about electron transfer/sharing provide background information
about how current theory of electronic bonding was developed. Lewis provides data about the
excess positive charges of a number of elements in the periodic table, compared to the zero
charge of the noble gases.
The text book Chemistry In Context and class notes provide information about the differing
properties of solid substances that have ionic or covalent bonds.

Report Plan
Abstract
Name the compounds
What testing- solubility/ability to conduct electricity
How testing - electrodes/circuit/bulb/ammeter
Overall brief conclusion
Introduction
Electronic theory of chemical bonding - loss, gain, or sharing of electrons in order to achieve stable
configurations/next noble gas in periodic table
Walther Kossel - valence/stability
G N Lewis postulate-excess of positive charges & theory of octet
Irvine Langmuir The octet theory of valence/covalence
This experiment...to determine ionic or covalent bonds
Ionic bonds- electron transfer metal/non-metal, crystal/lattice, ions, ability to conduct electricity
Covalent bonds- between non-metals, do not conduct electricity
Dissolved in water- covalently bonded/partial charges oxygen & hydrogen/polar, dissolves ionic
compounds into ions/ability to conduct electricity.
Hypothesis
Method
Design
This was an investigation to check the solubility, and test the electrical conductivity of compounds
and identify the type of chemical bonding.
Materials
Equipment used
Procedure
Step by step instructions for investigation.
Circuit/amounts of compounds/amount of water/stirring/electrodes/testing
Controls
Circuit tested/did conduct electricity
Water tested/did not conduct electricity.
Results
Present in table format
Compound

Solubility

Ability to conduct electricity

Discussion
2

Discuss observations/anomalies
Ideas for further investigations- start with electrodes in beaker/different temp water/different
compound mass/different solutes.
Conclusion
Which compounds dissolved, and conducted electricity- presence of free ions/compounds ionic.
Bit about ionic compounds.
Starch not conducting electricity so indicating covalent bonds
Possible to assess presence of ionic bond by solubility in water and ability to conduct electricity.
Risk Assessment
In table format
The risks

About the risks

Risk management

Risks: toxic chemicals/electricity/wires/glass

Bibliography