Help identifying unknown chemicals.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying nine unknown white solid chemicals using available reagents. Participants explore methods for determining the identity of these compounds through their reactions with specific chemicals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests starting by determining the solubility of each compound in water to narrow down the possibilities.
  • Another participant proposes creating a branching diagram to systematically explore the reactions of each compound with the reagents.
  • A further contribution mentions the availability of materials databases that could provide information on how the compounds react with the given reagents, framing the task as a logical exercise.
  • One participant expresses a sense of frustration due to a lack of feedback after a month, indicating a perceived stagnation in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the approach of investigating the reactions of the compounds with the reagents, but there is no consensus on specific methods or the effectiveness of the proposed strategies.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential for missing assumptions about the compounds' properties and the need for further clarification on the reactions with the reagents.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in chemistry, particularly those engaged in laboratory identification of chemical substances.

Bhajack
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I have 9 white solids which i need to identify. Aluminium ocide (Al2O3), Calcium Oxide (CaO), Sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4), aluminium sulphate ( Al2(SO4)3 ), Ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4, calcium nitrate ( Ca(NO3)2 ), Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), Sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3), Zinc carbonate (ZnCO3).

The reagents i have are: water, Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, silver nitrate solution, ammonium hydroxide and barium chloride.

Any ideas on how to single a few out would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Welcome to PF;
You want to start by fuguring what the reactions of each of them with each of the reagents would be.
i.e. do any of them look like they should dissolve in water?
 
I find sometimes it is easiest to turn this into a branching diagram. You keep creating new branches until you are left with the one compound. Like Simon said, find out what they react with and go from there. Your first branch could be "Does it dissolve in water".
 
A lot of those compounds are in materials databases - you can look up how they react with the different reagents.
Then it's mostly an exercise in logic.

Since it's been almost a month without feedback I guess the exercise is over and I wasn't really all that much help.
 

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