A chemistry lab: anyone know any?

Question

Anyone know any chemistry labs , which they have done in the past in their chemistry class?

Answer 1

Basic ones would be identifying compounds, titrations between acids and bases, chromatography, crystallization, crystal structure investigations, etc.

Answer 2

Yup, when we first started we only got to do volumetric analysis (basically titrations). Then we proceeded to do qualitative analysis (identification of unknown compounds) and preparation of (usually organic) compounds. I love the latter most!

Haha, actually esters aren't exactly "sweet-smelling" when they are produced in a large amount; they are actually stinky! Thanks for the banana flavour though :)

When I was still in junior college I signed up for a short crystal growing course; it's the most interesting chemistry lab I ever had! It's similar to crystallisation except that you don't need to boil the solution to dryness; in fact you have supersaturate it (by adding more of the powder until it no longer dissolves) and keep the temperature of the solution at 30 plus degrees in order to grow a good seed crystal. Once you obtain a nice seed crystal (with no broken edges), you need to dip it again into the supersaturated solution using a string. Crystals grow best on rough edges (like wired mesh) and in the dark, so you need to keep the solution in a cupboard for about 2-3 weeks.

Have fun in your Chemistry labs!

Answer 3

Preparation of an Ester (This one smells like 'wintergreen' and banana!!! :D)

Ester #1
1. Fill a 250 mL beaker approximately 1/2 full with tap water, and heat it to boiling.
2. Place appx. 2 mL of ethanol (ethyl alcochol) into a large test tube.
3. Place appx. 2 mL of acetic acid (ethanoic acid) into the same test tube.
4. Add five drops of 18M sulfuric acid (this isn't the reactant; it's a catalyst)
5. place the test tube into the beaker full of boiling water and heat it with its contents for a few minutes.


Ester #2
1. Place a small amount (about the size of a pea) of salicyclic acid, C6H4OHCOOH, into a large beaker.
2. Add appx. 2 mL of methanol (methyl alcochol) into the same test tube.
3. Add five drops of 18M H2SO4.
4. Heat the contents of the test tube in the beaker with the boiling water for a few minutes.


And there you go. I don't think I left out any steps... I did this last marking period. It was pretty cool.

Answer 4

estimating the pH of the substance, predicting if a precipitate will form, titration, creating a lolipop, etc