New Compound for Identification

Drs. Hyde, Jekyll and Frankenstein have discovered a new compound that they find promising as an anti-bacterial agent. They request that the Analytical Chemistry Department analyze the accompanying sample to determine the empirical formula. Please analyze the compound and return your results in a week.

Information on the compound: This is a copper chloride salt that is hydrated. Since copper has two possible charges we are not sure what the exact empirical formula is. We also need to know how many water molecules are attached to a formula unit of the salt.

Sincerely,

Dr. No Fu Ling

Pharmacology Division of Acme Pharmaceuticals

[Page Break]

Department Memorandum

to: Analytical Chemistry Department Scientists

from: Dr. R. U. smart

subject: Analysis of new compound

date: 2/8/2008

cc: Dr. No Fu Ling, Pharmacology Department

Intra-Department Instruction

Dear Colleagues,

According to the attached memo from the Department of Pharmacology we need to determine the empirical formula for the hydrated copper chloride salt. We must complete this task and present our results in a written report complete with procedural steps and the necessary calculations supporting our determined formula, by Friday, Feb. 16, 2007.

In order to accomplish the task, you will work in assigned pairs. You need to employ procedures from “Determining the Empirical Formula of a Hydrated Salt” Lab as well as the newly acquired technique, gravimetric analysis, used in the most recent “Percent Yield” lab. First, you need to isolate the ionic compound from the hydrating water. You then need to separate one of the ions from the other. (Consider the five different types of reactions from the first half of Unit 6 to help with this.) If you separate only one ion and find its mass, you can determine the second ion’s mass by the difference.

I look forward to seeing your successful results.

Sincerely,

Dr. R. U. Smart
Director