Identifying unknown substances?
Answer:
Most of the time simple solubility tests can be used. Many substances will produce a precipitate in the presence of certain molecules and won't in the presence of others. Yo ujust have to perform a series of solubility tests to narrow down what kind of substance you have.
Density is probably to quickest and easiest
Melting point is pretty easy too.
Here are some simple tests you could do.
Solubility
Conductivity
pH in solution
Look at physical properties (Shiny? Color? Brittle? Ductile? Smell? )
Flame test
See what basic substances it reacts/precipitates with
Some more complicated tests you could do are:
mass spectroscopy
NMR spectroscopy
infrared spectroscopy
hope this helps
Density tests, flash point tests, ph tests, specfic gravity test, are all simple test that are used to determine a substances makeup
There are simple qualitative tests for organic and inorganic compounds that are a starting point. To help identify the molecular structure there are instrumental methods that can be used such as infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. It you really want to nail the structure of the compound without a doubt then x-ray crystallography is the answer
Jeez people, he said Simple tests!
See if you can get a microscope, and look at a few bits of the substance on a slide. Then you should be able to look up on the net what it is.
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