Apple Fireworks Mystery

1
Apple Fireworks Mystery

• Case Number
• JW06-6022.1023

2
The Facts

• The Apple Fireworks Company (AFC) based out of
  Uranium, VA, is in the process of submitting a
  proposal for the 2007 Apple Blossom festival.
• While reviewing chemical inventory at AFC,
  several containers with chemicals used in the
  preparation of fireworks were found with no
  identification labels.

3
The Mission

• AFC has hired your company, the Wood Chemical
  Analysis Laboratory (W-CAL), to identify the
  chemicals present in the unlabeled containers.
• AFC has informed W-CAL that each of these
  containers is believed to contain a saturated
  nitrate solution.
• AFC uses the following metals in solution to
  prepare its fireworks Cu, Pb, K, Ca, Ba, and Zn.

4
Wood ChemicalAnalysis Laboratory

• This lab can test for several substances,
  including metals.
• The lab only uses flame tests as a final
  confirmation.
• This lab uses several major chemicals in their
  examinations, including MgSO4, Na2CrO4, NaBr,
  NaOH, Na2CO3, and HCl.
• Various combinations of these chemicals will
  yield positive test results for Cu, Pb, K, Ca,
  Ba, and Zn.

5
The Assignment

• As members of the Wood Chemical Analysis
  Laboratory, your job is to analyze samples taken
  from the firework containers and determine what
  metals were present in each of these containers.

6
Additional Information

• You will have available 0.1 M solutions of the
  following compounds to use in your analysis
  MgSO4, Na2CrO4, NaBr, NaOH, Na2CO3, and HCl.
• Other lab equipment will be available upon
  request, including pH sensors and conductivity
  probes.

7
Additional Information

• Employees will work in teams of 2 or 3.
• Each team of employees will be responsible for
  testing the six firework samples.
• A supervisor is available that may have
  additional information that may be of assistance
  in your investigation.

8
Your Conclusions

• Once your team has completed its investigation,
  you are to report your results with conclusive
  support for your decisions.

9
Your Report

• The following information is essential to your
  final report
• - team members
• - sample container numbers
• - tests performed
• - results of tests
• - conclusions
• (these need to be supported with logical
  evidence)

10
Expected Results
  MgSO4 Na2CrO4 Na2CrO4 NaOH Na2CO3 HCl NaBr
Ba2 x x x xx x    
Ca2 xx xx x    
Cu2 x x x x  
Zn2     x x    
Pb2 x x x x x x x
K        
x insoluble insoluble
xx slightly soluble slightly soluble slightly soluble
soluble