Презентация, доклад исследовательского проекта: Investigation of Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Amber in School Laboratory

in School Laboratory

organic compounds. Amber is used for making of jewelries, medications. Amber has got many poetic names - "sea tears", "gift of the Sun."

Amber does not form crystals, it is amorphous solid.

In the ancient world the cost of small amber was often more expensive than the young slave. People gave fossil resin miraculous properties. So amber has always attracted the attention of scientists as an object of investigation. 

investigated some physical properties of amber, such as - density - hardness on Mohs’ scale of mineral hardness -comparative evaluation of the ability of electrification.

And some of its chemical properties - the effect of different solvents - chemical and physical transformations
of amber when it is heated - the effect of acids and alkalis on amber.

resin of conifers. Amber is a mixture of hydrocarbons, resins, succinic acid and oils.

Because amber has inconstant composition, it can not be attributed to the minerals. Therefore the term "amber" is common for a number of fossil resins. Middle composition of amber results in a general formula - С10Н16О.

Far East; in the countries of the Baltic sea, in other European countries (Belarus, Ukraine, Romania) and on Alaska.

example, a succinic room in the Large palace of Tsar's Village)
The pressed amber is used for electro-insulators.
The products of processing of amber are used in chemical industry: for making of varnishes, rosins.
Amber is used for the producing of the succinic acid which is applied in agriculture for a growth of plants acceleration.
Amber is suitable for making pleasant and beautiful gifts, souvenirs and jeweller decorations.

cylinder
Technique: the pieces of amber were weighed by using technical balance with precision about 0.01 g. The volume of the amber pieces was determinated by using method of displased water volume with graduated cylinder.

tquation (1):

ρ = m / V (1)

The results have been presented in the table 1:

m – mass of amber pieces
V – volume of amber pieces

Mohs’ scale
Technique: The hardness of amber has been determinated by the Mohs’ scale. We have used gypsum (hardness equals 2) and calcite (hardness equals 3). Gypsum doesn't scratch amber. Calcite scratches the amber. Therefore, the hardness of the amber is 2.5 on the Mohs’ scale.

, ebonite and wool
Equipments: electrometer
Technique: pieces of amber, glass and ebonite was rubbed with wool.
Their charges were measured by using electrometer.
The charge of amber piece is more than the charge of glass piece but less than the charge of ebonite piece.

fluoresced under the influence of UV radiation.

The effect of ultraviolett radiation on the pieces of amber

test-glass, water, alcohol, acetone, linseed-oil

As one can see from the picture, the best solvents for amber are acetone(3) and linseed-oil(4).

As one can see from the picture, pH of the solution is less than 7.
So we concluded that there was some succinic acid in the solution.

Chemical properties of amber after heating

nitric acid (1),
sulfuric acid (2).
And it did not interact with alkalis (3).

Materials: pieces of amber
Equipments: test-glass, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, alkalis.

of amber piece is more than the charge of glass piece but less than the charge of ebonite piece.

The pieces of amber are fluoresced under the influence of UV radiation.

The best solvents for amber are acetone and linseed-oil.

Amber contains succinic acid after thermal destruction .

Conclusions