Aluminum, Silver, and PotassiumPart 2

Caryn MartinBrittany Warren

Hannah Richardson

Observations cont.

After adding 15 drops of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), a translucent whitish cloud appeared in the test tube.

Observations cont.

After centrifuge a small amount of aluminum was observed on the bottom of the test tube.

Observations cont.

25 drops of NaOH were added the second time, and again a small amount of cloudiness was observed in the test tube.

Observations cont.

After centrifuge, a small amount of aluminum was observed on the bottom of the test tube.

Observations cont.

10 drops of NaOH were added the third time, and a very small translucent cloud was observed.

Observations cont.

After the sample was centrifuged, a very, very, small amount of aluminum remained  on the bottom of the test tube. 15 drops of NaOH were added to the sample the fourth time. Still a very small amount of aluminum was observed.

After this sample was centrifuged, a tiny sample of aluminum was observed in the bottom of the test tube.  5 more drops of NaOH were added and no aluminum remained.

Observations cont.

A flame test was carried out to test for the presence of potassium. A wooden splint was soaked in the mixture for 5 minutes, then held over the Bunsen burner flame. A lilac flame appeared, a positive result for the presence of potassium.

Anaylsis

    This lab ended up being very sucessful. Each element was able to be precipitated out of the metal ion solution. When the first compound was added to the mixture to precipitate out silver, there was an acutual visibility of the reaction occuring. However, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned like having to repeat certain steps, such as 7-9. This is where the person doing the lab must go back and make sure all of the element that were being precipitated out were in fact precipitated out.

Conclusion

    The puropse of the lab is to to understand the separation of ions by adding other elements, or compounds to precipitate out the elements, aluminum, silver, and potassium.The lab was a success because, there were no major issues with the procedure and the lab worked very well. A few tweaks had to be made to the procedure while the lab was being performed. But over all the lab was a success with no major issues or complications.

Photograph. Periodic Table. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://periodictable.com/Samples/013.21/s9s.JPG>.

Photograph. Periodic Table. Web. 16 Mar. 2011http://periodictable.com/Elements/019/index.html.  

http://tmms218.org/sgb/myst.jpg

Works cited

Photograph. Periodic Table. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.periodictable.com/Samples/047.29/s12s.JPG>.

Photograph. Periodic Table. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://periodictable.com/Samples/019.6/s9s.JPG>.