What do scientist use to identify an unknown substance
I say heat it up
Personally, I think this is a ridiculous question. If I'm given an unknown I want to analyze it. You can look at it, heat it, cool it, cut it, melt it, etc and you may have a pretty good idea about what it MIGHT be but it is likely that none of these will be definitive.
Do not necessarily taste it.
Tasting an unknown is never a recommended tool. Smelling an unknown, too, has it's hazards and one must use caution. Back in my younger days I took a real snoot full; once it just about knocked me out. That's why I omitted both of those from my post.
Scientists have several methods to identify an unknown substance, and heating it up is one possible approach. Let me explain the general process scientists follow for identification.
1. Observation: Scientists begin by closely observing the physical properties of the substance. They may note its color, texture, odor, and any other visible characteristics.
2. Analytical Testing: Scientists use various analytical techniques to gather more information about the substance. Some common methods include spectroscopy, chromatography, and microscopy. These techniques can provide valuable data about the substance's chemical composition, molecular structure, and impurity profile.
3. Elemental Analysis: Scientists may conduct elemental analysis to determine the types and amounts of elements present in the substance. This can be done using techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).
4. Thermal Analysis: Heating the substance is indeed a useful method called thermal analysis. Different substances exhibit specific behaviors when heated, such as melting, boiling, sublimation, or decomposition. By observing these changes and comparing them to known substances, scientists can make initial predictions about the unknown substance.
5. Spectroscopy: Scientists often employ spectroscopic techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), or mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the molecular structure and functional groups present in the substance.
6. Comparison: Scientists then compare the data collected from the above steps to databases of known substances, such as chemical libraries or spectroscopic databases, to find matches or similarities. This comparison helps in narrowing down the possibilities for the identity of the unknown substance.
So, while heating the substance can provide valuable information about its thermal behavior, it is just one part of the overall process used by scientists to identify unknown substances.