Question

A teacher gives a student a nontoxic, odorless, white powder to identify. Generate four questions, each regarding a different property of the unknown powder that could be safely tested and answered in the laboratory.

Answer 1

I'm thinking properties like conductivity, solubility, polarity, reactivity (to other molecules), staining properties, molecular structure (test how it might combine with other molecules), maybe its structure under the microscope.. This may or may not be helpful

Answer 2

Freezing and boiling points may also be helpful

Answer 3

I think those are really good parameters.

Finding the boiling point of a solid white powder might take a bit of effort though lol.

Answer 4

Those are all I could come up with off the top of my head. I agree, especially if it isn't salt or sugar.

Answer 5

I guess you would not see the structure under the microscope (even electron-). The melting point would be a valuable information (especially if it is pure). molecular mass would also be helpful (although material to get (mass spec) it is not easily accessible.