Question

Say you are presented with two beakers, beaker A and beaker B, each containing a white, powdery compound.

Would it be easier to prove that the compounds are the same or to prove that they different? Explain your reasoning. ?

Answer 1

@aaronq

Answer 2

To me it would seem that it would be easier to prove that they were different.

Answer 3

ok why? @zbay

Answer 4

Because there are a vast number of different white powder mixtures out there the odds are good t they are not the same. I would probably start off with a solubility test to see if one disassociated in water.

Answer 5

and another question relating to this...
A friend states that the best experiment for determining whether the compounds are the same is to see if they both dissolve in water. He proceeds to take 10.0 g of each compound and places them in separate beakers, each containing 100 mL of water. Both compounds completely dissolve. He then states, “Since the same amount of both substances dissolved in the same volume of water, they must both have the same chemical composition.” Is he justified in making this claim? Why or why not? ?

should it be yes because its true and it is proven?

Answer 6

I personally don't think there is enough information to justify that clam.

Answer 7

solubility with the same molecular weight would probably be enough to justify it.

Answer 8

ok, because there are a lot of things that are soluble? @zbay

Answer 9

i would put up something along the lines of that combined with a statement saying for a compound to be identical you need the same chemical formula

Answer 10

ok thanks a lot!