In my chemistry class, we are writing a paper about identifying unknowns. Our teacher says all the compounds we need to identify will look like water. I have found ways to identify various ionic compounds, but how can you verify that an unknown compound is water scientifically?
2007-01-18 15:22:48 · 5 answers · asked by KobeFan24 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
There are a few simple tests you could do. If you smell it, and it has an odor, it isn't pure water. If you put it in the freezer, and it doesn't freeze, it isn't pure water. If you test it with pH paper, and the result isn't 7, it isn't pure water.
If you have scientific equipment, you could measure the refractive index (which is 1.33 to 1.34 for water). You could measure the freezing point, which should be 0C. You could scan it with an IR spectrometer, and then scan a known water sample, and compare the two.
Ideally you want to do a few tests to make sure they all come to the same conclusion.
2007-01-18 15:31:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am not an expert, but I had a chemistry teacher once tell a story about having to take a similar test. He said that there was no simple test to "prove" a substance is water. He eliminated other possible chemicals, and finally tasted the sample to prove it was water.
His teacher chewed him out for it.
I can think of a few ways to test it. Put a thermometer in it and heat it. If it boils at 100 degrees c. then its water. Same thing with a freezing point.
set up electrolysis and see if you get hydrogen and oxygen when you run a current through it.
If all else fails, drink it. If you survive, its probably water...
2007-01-18 15:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well you have good ideas but I would use scince liquid test strips for it put 1 drop of each substance on each test strip I would use 3 difrent strips for each liquid and put one of the test strips for each thing in clear glasses filed with stuff like drinking vadka water and rubbing peroxide so three cups filled with those thing s one test strip in each of them and leave one dry on a starile desk do that with all of them keep them in the cups over night and check on them in the morning to see what happens hope this helped
2014-11-02 03:53:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
drink it! if you die thats not water.
but seriously, pH test would do, also with spectro, pure water doesn't have absorbance
2007-01-18 15:34:12 · answer #4 · answered by flongkoy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pH test?
2007-01-18 15:29:38 · answer #5 · answered by halobreak 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋