Melting Point is:
•a constant physical of a solid (the temperature at which it turns to a liquid)
•reported in the lab as a melting point range (usually 1–2 °C wide), not as a single temperature
•used for:
1) characterization of a compound (also IR, NMR, mass spec.)
2) identification of an unknown (compare with known mp's)
3) determination of purity
If a sample of a compound contains impurities, its mp is usually
depressed (lowered) and the range is broadened. Therefore, a
narrow mp range (1–2 °) suggests the sample is a pure compound.
How can this fact help us in the lab?
1) take a "mixed melting point" of an unknown (if you mix two samples - typically a known
and an unknown - and the mp doesn't change, then the two samples are the same compound)
2) take a mp before and after a purification technique (like recrystallization, this week's lab)
Method for measuring a Melting Point range:
• LOAD sample in a capillary (mp) tube (pack the sample down into the CLOSED end of tube)
• SLOWLY HEAT the sample and closely WATCH both the crystals and the temperature
• at the first sign of melting (crystals look wet), RECORD the temperature (first number of reported range)
• when the last crystal melts, RECORD the temperature (second number of reported range)
• for best results: use a small, well-packed sample and heat slowly to ensure even heating