Investigating the Solubility of Different Substances in Different Solvents

Investigating the Solubility of Different Substances in Different Solvents

Aim: To investigate the solubility of different substances in different solvents.

Hypothesis: The solubility of a substance depends on its chemical nature and the nature of the solvent.

Materials

  • 6 test tubes
  • Test tube rack
  • Distilled water
  • Ethanol
  • Sodium chloride (NaCl)
  • Sucrose (C12H22O11)
  • Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
  • Stopwatch or timer
  • Measuring cylinder or pipette

Method

  1. Label 6 test tubes A to F.
  2. Measure 5 ml of distilled water into tubes A, C, and E.
  3. Measure 5 ml of ethanol into tubes B, D, and F.
  4. Add 1 g of sodium chloride to tubes A and B, 1 g of sucrose to tubes C and D, and 1 g of calcium carbonate to tubes E and F.
  5. Stir each test tube with a glass rod or a plastic pipette to dissolve the solid completely.
  6. Start the timer and observe each test tube for 5 minutes.
  7. Record your observations of each test tube in a table.
  8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 with different amounts of solute or solvent to test the effects on solubility.

Observations

  • Tube A (Distilled water + NaCl): The salt dissolves completely and the solution is clear.
  • Tube B (Ethanol + NaCl): The salt does not dissolve in ethanol and settles at the bottom.
  • Tube C (Distilled water + Sucrose): The sugar dissolves completely and the solution is clear.
  • Tube D (Ethanol + Sucrose): The sugar dissolves partially in ethanol and the solution is cloudy.
  • Tube E (Distilled water + CaCO3): The calcium carbonate does not dissolve in water and settles at the bottom.
  • Tube F (Ethanol + CaCO3): The calcium carbonate does not dissolve in ethanol and settles at the bottom.

Conclusion

The solubility of a substance depends on its chemical nature and the nature of the solvent. Some substances, such as sodium chloride and sucrose, are highly soluble in water but less soluble in ethanol. Other substances, such as calcium carbonate, are insoluble in both water and ethanol. The solubility of a substance can be affected by factors such as temperature, pressure, and the amount of solute or solvent. Further investigations could explore the effects of these factors on solubility.

Future investigations

Suggest how this investigation could be adapted so that it was able to test a range where the Independant Variable (IV) is manipulated.

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