What are the properties of this unknown crystal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mubashirmansoor
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Crystal
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying an unknown crystal based on its physical and chemical properties. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding its composition, considering both organic and inorganic materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the crystal as cubic with octahedral habit, with a refractive index of 1.5 - 1.6, a density of 1 - 1.25 gmcm^-3, white color, water solubility, a melting point around room temperature, transparency, and non-toxicity.
  • Another participant suggests that the properties might correspond to sugar, noting the similarity but acknowledging the presence of additional properties in the unknown crystal.
  • A later reply mentions that the unknown crystal has a chlorine-like smell and behaves differently when heated compared to sugar.
  • One participant proposes that the low density and melting point near room temperature could indicate it is some organic solid.
  • Another participant speculates that it could be stearic acid, but later acknowledges that stearic acid has a higher melting point.
  • There is a suggestion that the unknown crystal might be acetic acid mixed with sugar, as it resembles acetic acid but has a lower melting point.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of the crystal, with multiple competing hypotheses and ongoing exploration of possibilities.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the properties of the unknown crystal could correspond to various salts or organic compounds, indicating a need for further investigation and measurement.

mubashirmansoor
Messages
258
Reaction score
0
What can this crystal be?

Hello,

I have some crystals with the following properties which I am unfortunately unable to find out their chemical formula or name... any other material with the following characteristics will help too.

Cubic with octahedral habit.

RI : 1.5 - 1.6

Density : 1 - 1.25 gmcm^-3

Color : White

Soluble in water.

MP : about room temp.

Transparent.

&

Its not toxic.

Prosperous Regards.
 
Physics news on Phys.org


mubashirmansoor said:
Hello,

I have some crystals with the following properties which I am unfortunately unable to find out their chemical formula or name... any other material with the following characteristics will help too.

Cubic with octahedral habit.

RI : 1.5 - 1.6

Density : 1 - 1.25 gmcm^-3

Color : White

Soluble in water.

MP : about room temp.

Transparent.

&

Its not toxic.

Prosperous Regards.
The simple thing it comes to my mind is sugar. Don't know if those properties correspond, maybe you want to make an internet search.
Anyway it's not so easy to answer your question, there are a lot of salts which could have those properties.
 
Last edited:


lightarrow said:
The simple thing it comes to my mind is sugar. Don't know if those properties correspond, maybe you want to make an internet search.
Anyway it's not so easy to answer your question, there are a lot of salts which could have those properties.

Thank you for your reply... The properties of sugar are extremely similar too... but this mystery compound has two other properties too:

1) it smells a bit like chlorine...

&

2) when heated it doesn't gets concentrated as quickly as sugar!

Once again thanks for contributing.
 


Low density, melting point near room temperature... possibly some organic solid.
 


A complete guess because it just popped into my head...stearic acid
If you measure its melting point you may be able to refer to a data sheet.
 


Dadface said:
A complete guess because it just popped into my head...stearic acid
If you measure its melting point you may be able to refer to a data sheet.

Thanks... but stearic acid has a comparatively high mp...

Could it be Acetic acid mixed up with sugar... it looks quite similar to acetic acid but with lower mp...
 

Similar threads

Is my fictional Solar System stable and realistic?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
6K
April Fool's Physics Papers 2026
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
467