ISSR CLASSES
Checkpoint Science
iGCSE Chemistry
iGCSE Physics
iGCSE Coordinated Science
A-Level Chemistry
PRACTICALS
Practicals Home
Practicals A-Z
Study Plan for Practical Work
This is quite a challenging one for students to get a full set of results for. However, it should be fairly easy to see that the magnesium carbonate is the easiest to decompose. There can be practical advantages to doing this experiment alongside the next one.
You will see that the method I have used is rather destructive on test tubes. If you do your own experiment an alternative approach may be cheaper! We keep a stock of damaged, flame-polished test tubes for this experiment as there tends to be a high test tube mortality rate. It is worth reminding students to allow the hot test tubes to cool on a heat-proof mat to save damage to test tube racks and bench surfaces.
Materials:
| Magnesium carbonate (2 g) | Calcium carbonate (2 g) |
| Strontium carbonate (2 g) | Limewater |
| Test tubes - see above | Glass rod and/or delivery tubes |
| Bunsen burner | Heat-proof mat |
| Test tube holders |