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What is it?

Over the years scientists have gathered and compiled the many properties of individual substances. To identify an unknown substance in a mixture, scientists try to match the properties of the unknown substance to those of known substances. While there are numerous properties used in identification, there are some routine techniques that test for common properties.

A substance's shape and color is one of the first pieces of evidence scientists note. Its solubilityThe tendency of a substance to dissolve in some other substance. or its ability to dissolve in another substance is another first step in identification. Because water is a common and known substance, it is the standard for many tests. A substance that dissolves in water is called solubleA substance that can be dissolved in some other...

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1. Introduction
2. Mixing it up
3. Separating by size
4. Separating by speed
5. What is it?
6. Experiment 1 - Chromatography: Can you identify a pen from the way its colors separate?
7. Experiment 2 - Identifying a Mixture: How can determining basic properties of a substance allow you to identify the substances in a mixture?
8. Design Your Own Experiment