INDEX
• Aim/Objective
• Scientific Principle Involved
• Material Used
• Method
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Reference List
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this project is to measure the
solubility of some common chemicals:
• Table Salt (NaCl)
• Epsom salts (MgSO4)
• Sugar (sucrose, C12H22O11)
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
A saturated solution is a mixture in which no more solute can
be practically dissolved in a solvent at a given temperature. It
is said practical because theoretically infinite amount of
solute can be added to a solvent, but after a certain limit the
earlier dissolved solute particles start rearranging and come
out at a constant rate. Hence overall it appears that no solute
is dissolved after a given amount of solute is dissolved. This is
known as a saturated solution.
In an unsaturated solution, if solute is dissolved in a solvent
the solute particles dissociate and mix with the solvent
without the rearrangement of earlier dissolved solute
particles.
Solubility depends on various factors like the Ksp of the salt,
bond strength between the cation and anion, covalency of
the bond, extent of inter and intramolecular hydrogen
bonding, polarity, dipole moment etc. Out of these the
concepts of H- bonding, covalency, ionic bond strength and
polarity play a major role if water is taken as a solvent.
Also, physical conditions like temperature and pressure also
play very important roles as they affect the kinetic energy of
the molecules.
MATERIAL USED
To do this experiment you will need the following
materials and equipment:
• Distilled water
• Metric liquid measuring cup (or graduated
cylinder)
• Three clean glass jars or beakers
• Non-iodized table salt (NaCl)
• Epsom salts (MgSO4)
• Thermometer
• Sugar (sucrose, C12H22O11)
• Disposable plastic spoons
• Three shallow plates or saucers
• Oven
• Electronic kitchen balance (accurate to 0.1 g)
METHOD
1. Measure 100 mL of distilled water and pour into a clean, empty beaker
or jar.
2. Use the kitchen balance to weigh out the suggested amount (see
below) of the solute to be tested.
3. Add a small amount of the solute to the water and stir with a clean
disposable spoon until dissolved.
4. Repeat this process, always adding a small amount until the solute will
no longer dissolve.
5. Weigh the amount of solute remaining to determine how much was
added to the solution.
Save your saturated solutions for the second method.
Analysing your Results:
• To make sure that your results are reproducible, you should repeat your
solubility experiment at least three separate times for each chemical.
• For each solubility determined by Method 1, you will have the original
volume of water, the total mass of the solute, and the remaining mass of
the solute. You can calculate how much of the solute was dissolved.
• Calculate the average solubility, in grams of solute per 100 mL of water,
as determined by each method.
• More advanced students should also calculate the standard deviation
of the solubility, as determined by each method.
• Compare the results of the two methods.
• Compare your results to published solubility for the three chemicals.
DISCUSSION
A good part of the substances we deal with in daily life, such as milk,
gasoline, shampoo, wood, steel and air are mixtures. When the
mixture is homogenous, that is to say, when its components are
intermingled evenly, it is called a solution. There are various types of
solutions, and these can be categorized by state (gas, liquid, or solid).
The chart below gives some examples of solutions in different states.
Many essential chemical reactions and natural processes occur in
liquid solutions, particularly those containing water (aqueous
solutions) because so many things dissolve in water. In fact, water is
sometimes referred to as the universal solvent. The electrical charges
in water molecules help dissolve different kinds of substances.
Solutions form when the force of attraction between solute and
solvent is greater than the force of attraction between the particles
in the solute.
Two examples of such important processes are the uptake of
nutrients by plants, and the chemical weathering of minerals.
Chemical weathering begins to take place when carbon dioxide in the
air dissolves in rainwater. A solution called carbonic acid is formed.
The process is then completed as the acidic water seeps into rocks
and dissolves underground limestone deposits.
Sometimes, the dissolving of soluble minerals in rocks can even lead
to the formation of caves.
Types of Saturation Definitions Examples
A saturated solution is a solution Carbonated Water
Saturated Solution that is in equilibrium with respect
to a given dissolved substance
A solution not in equilibrium with NaCl in water
Unsaturated Solution respect to a given dissolved
substance and in which more
substance can be dissolved
A solution contains more dissolved Sugar is dissolved in saturated
Supersaturated Solution substance than a saturated solution by heating
solution does.
CONCLUSION
The solubility of NaCl is the highest as it an ionic
salt and easily dissociates in water. Also, since the
size of both the cation and anion are small, the
collisions are more and hence probability of
dissociation is high. The solubility of MgSO4 is also
high as it is also an ionic salt, but due to a larger
anion, collisions are not very effective. The
solubility of C12H22O11 is the least as it a very large
molecule due to which hydrogen bonding with the
water molecules is not very effective. Also due to
the large number of carbon and oxygen atoms,
inter molecular H-bonding is more dominant than
intramolecular H bonding.
REFERENCE LIST
• Chemistry Class XII, published by NCERT
• Chemistry Class XI, published by NCERT
• NCERT Laboratory Manual, Class XII
• NCERT Laboratory Manual, Class XI
