Elements and Their Compounds

Elements and compounds are a result of the actions of the valence electrons. There are three types of bonds that I have learned about in the bonding comparison lab. These bonds include ionic, polar covalent, and non-polar covalent. Each of these bonds and the element compounds connected to them has individual solubility, conductivity, melting point, and volatility levels. The three element compounds that will follow are sodium chloride, sucrose, and p-dichlorobenzene.

Sodium chloride is an ionic bond. It is soluble in water, but is not soluble in heptane. Sodium chloride has a high melting point, meaning that it takes high temperatures to melt it from a solid into a liquid. When wafted, sodium chloride has a mild scent, which means that it has a moderate volatility level. Electric conductivity in sodium chloride is very strong in water, and literally non-existent in its dry, solid form.

Sucrose, with its polar covalent bond, conducts very well in water. In its solid form, it is not conductive at all. Sucrose has a low volatility, meaning it has no smell. With a medium melting point, it doesn't require much heat to melt sucrose. Sucrose is soluble in water, but is not soluble in heptane. This compound, sucrose, is commonly known as sugar.

P-dichlorobenzene is a non-polar covalent bond. Being very volatile, P-dichlorobenzene has a very strong scent when wafted. P-dichlorobenzene is not soluble in water, but is soluble in heptane in its crystal solid form. The conductivity in this compound is weak in water, and not conductive at all as a solid. P-dichlorobenzene has a low melting point, and requires very little to melt into a solid.

In conclusion, the lab about bonding comparisons has taught me a lot. I now know the difference between different kinds of compounds, and the way that they bond. I know what solubility, volatility, melting points, and conductivity levels are.

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