Name Date Class

Use with
Section 15.1

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of a solute in a solvent.

Solvents, however, are only able to dissolve (solvate) a limited amount of solute. As
solute is added to a solvent and the solution is being formed, the solvent has an ever-
decreasing ability to dissolve more solute. As long as the solvent is able to dissolve more solute,
the solution is unsaturated. When the solvent can no longer dissolve additional solute, the
solution is saturated. Any additional solute added will collect on the bottom of the container and
remain undissolved. The amount of solute that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent at
a specific temperature and pressure is defined as the solubility of the solute.
Solubility is dependent upon temperature. Generally, solvents at lower temperatures cannot
dissolve as much solute as solvents at higher temperatures. In this activity, you will determine the
solubility of a salt at different temperatures and will plot a solubility curve for the solute.

Problem Objectives Materials

• Prepare a saturated Sodium chloride (NaCl
solution in ice water. Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)
How do you determine the
solubility curve for a given salt? Distilled water
• Graph solubility as a function 250-mL beakers (2)
of temperature and observe 100-mL graduated Cylinder
how the solubility changes Thermometer
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

with changing temperature. Watch Glass

Pan with Ice
Weighing Dish (2)
Hot Plate
Stirring Rod
Balance
Scoopula

Safety Precautions
• Always wear safety goggles and a lab apron.
• Never taste any substance used in the lab.
• Use caution around hot items.

Pre-Lab Questions 3. Why must a saturated solution be obtained in

order to make a solubility curve?
1. How will you know when the solution is
4. Read over the entire laboratory activity.
saturated? Hypothesize what will happen to the solubility
2. Why is a mixture of ice and water used to make when a saturated solution is heated. Record your
the freezing ice-water bath? hypothesis on page 114.

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LAB 15.1 LABORATORY MANUAL

Procedure 10. When the undissolved solid from the saturated

solution dissolves, add another 5.0 g of the salt
1. Select one of the two salts to test and record its to the water. Stir until the salt dissolves.
identity in Data Table 1. Continue adding the salt at 5.0-g increments
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure 50 mL of until no more solid will dissolve in the water.
water into a 250-mL beaker. The solution is saturated again. Any excess
3. Add the ice to the beaker and insert the stirring solid will remain on the bottom of the beaker.
rod. Stir the ice and water mixture for 1 minute, Record the amount of solid added to make the
then use the thermometer to measure the saturated solution in Data Table 1.
temperature of the mixture. CAUTION: Do not 11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 at temperatures of 50°C
use the thermometer to stir the mixture. and 80°C. CAUTION: The beaker is hot.
4. When the temperature is consistently between 12. Remove the beaker from the hot plate and
0°C and 2°C, remove the thermometer and the gently set it on the lab bench to cool.
stirring rod. Place a watch glass over the 13. Plot a graph of the mass of salt dissolved versus
beaker. Pour exactly 50-mL of the cold water temperature. Draw a best-fit smooth curve
into a graduated cylinder. Pour the remaining through the data points. With the help of your
ice/water mixture into the ice pan. teacher, obtain solubility data from the other
groups in your class for the remaining three
5. Record the volume of the cold water in salts. Graph this data on your graph to obtain a
Data Table 1. Place the beaker of cold family of solubility curves.
water in a pan containing ice. Surround the
breaker with additional ice. Use the Hypothesis
thermometer to measure the temperature of
the water and record it in Data Table 1.
During the solubility test, the cold water
needs to stay under 5°C

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. Using the balance, measure 5.0 g of the selected
salt and add it to the water in the beaker. Stir
the mixture until the solid is dissolved.
7. Repeat step 6 until no more of the salt will
dissolve. The solution is now saturated. Make Cleanup and Disposal
sure to keep track of the total mass of the salt
added to the water. Any excess solid will 1. Turn off the hot plate and allow it to cool.
remain on the bottom of the beaker. Record the 2. Make sure all glassware is cool before
amount of salt added to make the saturated emptying the contents.
solution in Data Table 1.
3. Place all chemicals in appropriately labeled
8. Remove the beaker form the pan and carefully waste containers.
dry the outside of the beaker with a paper
4. Return all lab equipment to its proper place.
towel. Place the beaker on the hot plate.
5. Clean up your work area.
9. Using the thermometer to measure the
temperature of the solution in the beaker, heat
the solution to 20°C. Remove and replace the
beaker from the hot plate as needed to maintain
a constant 20°C temperature.

114 Chemistry: Matter and Change • Chapter 15 Laboratory Manual

 Name Date Class

Data and Observations

Data Table 1
Identity of salt

Temperature (°C) NaCl NH4Cl

Volume of Water: ____________
Mass of salt added to make a saturated solution (g)
0°C

20°C
50°C

80°C

Analyze and Conclude

1. Observing and Inferring: What happened to the solubility of the salt as the temperature
increased?

2. Comparing and Contrasting: The solubility of which of the four salts is the most
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

temperature dependent?

3. Predicting: What would happen to the solubility of each salt if it was tested at
temperatures above 80°C?

4. Thinking Critically Why was the excess ice removed from the water before any salt
was added?

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Name Date Class

LAB 15.1 LABORATORY MANUAL

5. Error Analysis Compare the results of this lab with the predictions of your hypothesis.
Explain possible reasons for any disagreement.

Real-World Chemistry
1. In a dishwasher, the temperature of the water is 2. Unlike solids for which solubility in a liquid
very hot. Explain why it is better to use hot generally increases with increasing tempera-
water in a dishwasher rather than cold water. ture, the solubility of a gas in a liquid usually
decreases as the temperature increases.
Knowing this, explain why you should never
heat a can containing a carbonated soft drink.

Solubility Curve Graph of 2 Salts

ill Companie , Inc.

in grams of solute/100-mL H2O
Solubility of Salt

a
c
ill, a divi ion of the
a
Copyright © lencoe/ c

Temperature in °C

116 Chemistry: Matter and Change • Chapter 15 Laboratory Manual