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Chapter 1: Problem 103

You are given a liquid. Briefly describe steps you would take to show whether it is a pure substance or a homogeneous mixture.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The identification process involves observing the uniformity of the liquid, conducting a boiling point test and, if necessary, running additional tests. A pure substance will boil at a specific temperature and have consistent appearance, while a homogeneous mixture will boil over a range of temperatures while also maintaining uniform appearance. However, further chemical or physical tests may be needed for a definitive decision.

Step by step solution

01

Prepare the Liquid for Observation

Obtain the liquid sample in a clean, transparent container so that the substance can be thoroughly examined. If the liquid is in a state that allows for direct observation, proceed to the next step.
02

Physical Observation

Evaluate the physical properties of the liquid. A homogeneous mixture have consistent appearance throughout the sample with no visible separate components. However, be aware that this does not definitively establish the liquid as a homogeneous mixture as pure substances also will have a consistent appearance.
03

Conduct Boiling Point Test

A simple yet effective method to differentiate a pure substance from a homogeneous mixture is by conducting a boiling point test. Pure substances have specific boiling points. Therefore, heat the liquid and record at what temperature it boils. If it boils at a single constant temperature, it is likely a pure substance. If it boils over a range of temperatures, it is likely a homogeneous mixture. Please remember to handle this process with appropriate safety measures as per laboratory standard.
04

Execute Additional Testing if Necessary

If further verification is needed, additional chemical tests could be used to identify specific substances, or analytical devices like a spectrophotometer could be used to provide further evidence. Depending on the result one gets, decide if the liquid is a pure substance or homogeneous mixture.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Bromine is a reddish-brown liquid. Calculate its density (in \(g / \mathrm{mL}\) ) if \(586 \mathrm{~g}\) of the substance occupies \(188 \mathrm{~mL}\)

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Convert the following temperatures to degrees Celsius: (a) \(77 \mathrm{~K}\), the boiling point of liguid nitrogen, (b) \(4.2 \mathrm{~K},\) the boiling point of liquid helium, (c) \(601 \mathrm{~K},\) the melting point of lead.

A student is given a crucible and asked to prove whether it is made of pure platinum. She first weighs the crucible in air and then weighs it suspended in water (density \(=0.9986 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mL}\) ). The readings are \(860.2 \mathrm{~g}\) and \(820.2 \mathrm{~g},\) respectively. Based on these measurements and given that the density of platinum is \(21.45 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3},\) what should her conclusion be? (Hint: An object suspended in a fluid is buoyed up by the mass of the fluid displaced by the object. Neglect the buoyance of air.)
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