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What is the best method to classify a chemical substance? - Coggle Diagram
What is the
best method
to
classify
a
chemical substance
?
Classify
'To divide things or people into groups according to their type, or to say which group or type something or someone belongs to' - Cambridge Dictionary
How can we determine what type of category a chemical substance can be placed in?
Periods of Periodic Table
Groups of Periodic Table
Metal, non-metal or metalloid (only for elements)
Melting/boiling point
Brittleness
No. of Protons
Type of bond (covalent, metallic or ionic)
Type of structure (lattice or molecule)
Chemical Substance
Potentially a single element or a compound
Compound: a substance made up of two or more chemically bonded elements
Element: an element found on the periodic table
The compound will containing 2 or more elements. This means the bonds will be ionic, covalent or metallic.
Covalent bond:
Sharing of electrons between atoms in a non-metal compound
Ionic bond:
Transfer of electrons between oppositely charged ions of a metal and a non-metal
Metallic bond:
Sharing of delocalised electrons between cations in a metallic compound
Most
Ionic Bonds
are soluble and so they can conduct electricity when dissolved.
Lattice:
a strong solid bond and continuous connection of atoms that form into a lattice
Molecules:
Weak forces of attractions between molecules leave them as discrete substances due to their strong covalent bonds
Method
Testing the melting point
Melting over Bunsen burner
Testing the electrical conductivity
Electrical conductor test
Testing the solubility
Stirring in water
Testing the reactivity
Observing reactions with other chemicals (like water)
Testing the brittleness/hardness
Using a hammer
Testing the magnetism
Placing substance next to magnets
Best
Most efficient?
Fastest?
Easiest to do?
Most complex way?
Simplest way?
Most data-rich?
Classifying chemical substances using the
least number of tests
but still being
highly specific
Gives most information?