Experiment II - Solutions & Solution Color
Goals of Experiment II
- How do you successfully prepare a solution of known concentration?
- Why are some solutions colored while others are colorless?
- Is there a pattern of color based on characteristics of the compound itself?
- How do these solutions interact with visible light?
- What is in a solution, and how much of it is there?
- How do you prepare and use a calibration graph?
Questions you should learn from this lesson and know before going into lab
- What is a mole?
- How do you calculate molarity?
- How do you make a solution?
- How does a solution interact with light?
- How do you make an absorbance spectrum?
- How do you dilute a solution?
- How do you make a calibration graph?
- How do you work with Beer's Law?
Questions you should learn in lab
- What makes some solutions show color and others not?
- How does the solution color relate to its absorbance spectrum?
- How are concentration and absorbance related?
- How can you determine the concentration of an unknown sample?
You should also have a general understanding of the periodic table.
When looking at the relationship of color of a solution, and the elements themselves there are certain characteristics in the periodic table that should be known. Charge, electron configuration, ionic radius, all of these are characteristics of the cation in a particular solution that may have an impact on color.
Think you know the periodic table? Test yourself to find out!!
Need some additional help with understanding the periodic table? Try these great links!
