Relating properties and structure to uses

Syllabus 5.4Perform an investigation to examine the physical properties of a range of common substances in order to classify them as metallic, ionic, covalent molecular or covalent network substances and relate their characteristics to their uses.

1. Use the given websites to conduct research to complete the following table:

Copper: http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/copper.htm

Sodium Chloride:http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/sodium-chloride-properties.html http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sodium_chloride

Nitrogen:http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/N.html

Silicon Dioxide: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/chemicals/rocksmineralsrev3.shtml

PropertyCopperSodium chlorideNitrogenSilicon Dioxide

Type of substance

Melting point (C)

Boiling point (C)

Electrical conductivity

Solubility in water

2. Apply information from the table above to relate characteristics of the substances to their uses:

CopperSodium chlorideNitrogenSilicon dioxide

UseElectrical wiringCooking to flavour foodSnap-freeze vegetablesMaking glass insulators

Property that allows for this useGood conductor of electricity

Reason for this propertyMobile delocalised electrons