Daniela Vargas Paredes, María Lucía Martínez Peña &
Alejandro Forero Fuentes
LAB: Solubility Curve of ionic solutes in Water
Introduction: You have 5 minutes to read this with your group:
Objectives
In this experiment, you will be:
o measuring the solubility of different quantities of the given solutes at various
temperatures of crystallization. The crystallization start indicates that the solution has
become saturated at this temperature.
o constructing a solubility curve for the solutes used in water.
o able to identify and understand the key terms: solubility, solute, solvent, solvation,
saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated solutions.
o able to use the solubility curve graph to solve various problems and determine trends
in the curve.
Materials List
▪ Balance ▪ Thermometer
▪ Burner ▪ 10 ml graduated
cylinder
▪ Spatula ▪ Stirring rod
▪ Test tubes ▪ Ring stand
▪ Test tube holders ▪ Iron ring
and rack
▪ 400 ml beaker ▪ Utility clamp
▪ Potassium nitrate, ▪ Wire gauze
KN03
▪ Distilled water ▪ Marking pencil
General Safety
o Test tube holders should always be used to remove test tubes from the hot water bath.
o Long hair should be tied back.
o Your teacher will have warm and hot water available for you, ask him.
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Procedures
1. Divide the lab up so that one lab partner completes steps 2-3, while the other partner
begins on step 4.
2. Using a marking pencil, number four test tubes and place them into a test tube rack.
3. Using a balance to measure EACH solute, prepare the test tubes as indicated below:
Test tube # grams of KNO3 ml of distilled H2O
1 1.0 5
2 2.0 5
3 3.0 5
4 4.0 5
4. Fill a 400 ml beaker about ¾ full of tap water. This will be used as a hot water bath.
Place the water bath and test tube #1 on the stand (already set
up), firmly attached. Heat the water to 90 ºC and adjust the flame
to maintain this temperature.
5. Stir the solute-water mixture with a glass stirring rod until the
solute is completely dissolved. Loosen the clamp and remove the
tube using a test tube holder.
6. One lab partner repeats step 5 for test tube #2. The other lab
partner holds a warm thermometer into the solution in test tube #
1. Hold the test tube up to the light and water for the first signs of
crystallization in the solution. Record the temperature
immediately as crystallization begins in the data table.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for all four test tubes. One partner should do
step 5 and the other step 6. Record all temperatures in the data table.
Data Table: to be completed for each solute you were assigned.
Test tube # grams of _Calcium Chloride______ + Crystallization temp. (ºC)
ml of H2O
1 1g/5ml 50ºC
2 2g/5ml 58ºC
3 3g/5ml 70ºC
4 4g/5ml 90ºC
Calculations
1. Convert mass/5.0 ml ratios to mass/100 ml ratios.
EX: If I can dissolve 2g in 5mL, then:
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𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑖𝑛 100𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝐻2𝑂: (2𝑔𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 − →5𝑚𝐿𝐻2𝑂)
(𝑥 <−− 100𝑚𝐿 𝐻2𝑂)
Ans:40g solute dissolved in 100mL. (at the recorded temperature at the lab)
- Tube #1: 20g of Calcium Chloride dissolved in 100ml, at 50°C.
- Tube #2: 40g of Calcium Chloride dissolved in 100ml, at 58°C.
- Tube #3: 60g of Calcium Chloride dissolved in 100ml, at 70°C.
- Tube #4: 80g of Calcium Chloride dissolved in 100ml, at 90°C.
2. Plot your data using a LINE GRAPH. Note: Plot the mass of solute per 100 ml of
water on the y-axis and the temperature of crystallization on the x-axis.
3. Construct a solubility curve by connecting the plotted points on your graph.
Conclusion and Questions
1. According to your graph, how does the solubility of each solute change as the
temperature rises? Explain the observed trends by applying the learned concepts.
The solubility of CaCl2 increases as the temperature rises because as this solute is a
solid, it´s easier to dissolve at higher temperatures.
2. Explain at the molecular level why this relationship exists between temperature and
solubility.
The relationship between temperature and solubility exists because of the increase in
kinetic energy with higher temperature. When the temperature rises, the molecules'
kinetic energy increases, leading to more collisions between the solvent and solute
molecules. This increased collision rate increases the solubility of solids in liquids.
However, it's important to say that while the solubility of most solids in liquids
generally increases with temperature, the relationship can change based on the specific
properties of the substances involved.
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3. Using your graph, how many grams of each solute can be dissolved in 100 ml of water
at the following temperatures?
70°C=60g of CaCl2
50°C= 20g of CaCl2
45°C= around 20g of CaCl2
1°C=1g of CaCl2
4. On your solubility curve, what is the change in solubility from 30ºC to 60ºC for each
solute?
The change in solubility from 30°C to 60°C is an increase of 40 grams of CaCl₂ per
100 ml of water.
5. Using your graph, how much of each solute must be added to make a saturated
solution at 55 ºC in 100Ml of H2O?
30g of CaCl2 must be added to the 100 ml of H2O for it to be a saturated solution at
55°C.
6. Write two conclusions derived from this laboratory experience.
- The solubility of ionic solutes, such as CaCl2, in water increases with
increasing temperature due to the higher kinetic energy of the molecules,
which leads to more collisions and increased dissolution.
- The solubility curve shows the optimum temperature that the solute at different
amounts has, and as we could see the greater the amount of solute the higher
the temperature it had for it to crystallize.
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