What is the best method to classify a chemical substance?

classifiers

conductivity

conductive when dissolved in water = ionic compound

not conductive = non metal

chemical compounds

metals

malleable

have luster when sanded

ductile

non-metals

dull

ionic compounds

type of substance

shape

regular

ionic compounds are brittle, break in regular shapes (i.e. sodium chloride)

metals are malleable and ductile, can be found in strips/wires

irregular

metals are malleable, but likely found in clusters/irregular chunks

usually brittle

usually can dissolve in water

high melting point

organic

inorganic

form

solid

liquid

gas

mixture

classification

element

metals

metallic bonding

compounds

non metals

covalent bonding

non metal + metal

ionic bonding

mixture

contents

no fixed shape, reforms to fit container

fixed shape

ability to be stretched out into wires

ability to be reshaped through force

high boiling point

ionic bonds are built when atoms share transfer electrons - if a negatively charged atom is displaced and slides close to another negatively charged atom, it produces a force that pushes them apart

conductive when dry

conductive when dry = metal

deconstruct

what is a chemical substance?

covalent bonds

a chemical substance is any compound or element that has a consistent composition and structure

how do you classify a chemical substance?

methods for classification

depending on the bond, a chemical substance's properties can vary due to the type of bond

conductivity

use a conductivity probe to test for electrical conductivity

melting and boiling point

hardness and malleability

if not electrically conductive when dry, submerge in water

solubility

submerge in water

if the substance dissolves, it is water soluble

test for conductivity again

good heat conductors

conductivity is a factor that can determine the substance's compound form

exposing the substance to heat

if the substance breaks easily, it is brittle

if the substance does not break but dents, it is malleable

if the substance is a liquid, it can be placed in a beaker and held above

use a board and hammer to lightly hammer the substance (IF SOLID)

chemical substances can be identified and classified through a series of tests which confirm different properties of specific categories

for example, running a conductivity test when the substance is dry/dissolved in water would determine whether it is a metal (conductive when dry) or an ionic compound (conductive when dissolved in water)

a physical blend of 2 or more substances that can exist within themselves

brittle

poor conductors

high ionisation energy and electronegativity

luster

does the substance appear shiny without sanding?

when sanded, does the substance appear shiny?

can the substance be described as dull?

the appearance of the substance in terms of luster can assist in determining the chemical bond of the substance

expected outcomes/dependent variables

variables to consider

environment

is the environment that all the experiments are conducted in consistent?

what variables affect the consistency?

temperature

lighting (sun, heat, direct light, colour of light)

controlled variables

using the results gathered, it should become easier to assume the type of bond that occurs within the structure of the substance

the assumption SHOULD BE MADE using correct scientific evaluation and knowledge

i.e. putting together the different results from a test, and knowing it is an ionic bond because of the properties that the substance displayed.

consistent amount of water/heat applied etc. when conducting tests

temperature of bunsen burner

amount of the substance used

how will each method be proved effective?

time taken to conduct the method

reliability of the results

difficulty of which the results can be gathered

because different types of bonding can display the same properties and characteristics, how will the observations provide a clear difference between these types of bonds?