Question

4. Describe an experiment using which it can be proved that compounds do not retain properties of their constituents.

Answer 1

Compound: When two or more elements react chemically, a compound is formed. Compounds are always homogeneous. Compounds have properties entirely different from their constituents. For example:

• When iron and sulphur are heated strongly, then the compound so formed is iron sulphide.
• It is observed that this compound is glowing with a reddish glow because iron reacts with sulphur to form the compound iron sulphide with the release of heat energy.

We can prove that compounds do not retain the properties of their constituents by the following experiment:

• Now, take a small amount of mixture of iron and spread it thinly on paper.
• By using a magnet, we can find that iron gets attracted toward the magnet due to its magnetic properties.
• Now, if we take a small amount of iron sulphide and spread it over a paper.
• By using the magnet, we find that it will not attract the magnet because iron has lost its magnetic properties during the formation of iron sulphide.

Hence, it is proved that compounds do not retain the properties of their constituents.