Inorganic reactions
Read our general notes on Risk Assessment
What happens to cobalt(II) chloride, copper(II) nitrate, iron(II) sulphate, zinc carbonate and sodium nitrate, when they are all heated (separately)? Also, can you tell me what gases if any, evolve?
A response from Ulex
Hints but no answers
I don’t think it is proper to provide an answer to this question! This for two reasons.
Reason 1
Firstly because you are supposed to gain practical hands-on experience by actually making observations for yourself. You should then be asking yourself what could possibly explain what you have seen
You should become aware that:
- it is possible to provide chemical tests to identify various products, particularly gaseous ones
- some substances contain water of crystallisation but that others are anhydrous and
- that compounds of transition metals exhibit colours which may change when the compounds decompose.
You can use these examples to practice equation-writing.
Reason 2
The second reason is that the bald answers to these particular examples are unlikely to be required of you in an exam.
You might, however, have some observations described to you and be asked to interpret them in the light of your experience. Alternatively you might be told that a named substance (which you have never heard of before) produces named products when it is heated and be asked to suggest an expected observation.
The experience and the thinking are what is important, not the answers themselves.
Risk assessment
Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website.
For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
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updated: 20 August 2003
