Date: _______________ Name: _____________________________ Hour: _____

LAB: The Relationship of Solubility to Polarity

Background
The polarity of a substance is a way of describing the distribution of the electrical charge within the particles of
the substance. If a substance is polar, there is an UNEVEN electrical distribution. If the substance is non-polar,
the electrical charge is evenly distributed.

Purpose
To determine how polarity is related to solubility.

Materials
Solvents: Solutes:
water (polar) potassium nitrate, KNO3 (polar)
ethanol (both polar and non-polar) sodium chloride, NaCl (polar)
hexanes (non-polar) iodine, I2 (non-polar)
glucose, C6H12O6 (polar?)
wax, C25H52 (non-polar)

Instructions
You are to determine the solubility of each of the solutes in each of the solvents as
follows:
I - insoluble SS - slightly or partially soluble S - soluble
none or very little dissolves some dissolves obviously dissolves

THESE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESS IN THIS LAB:

1. Thoroughly mix.
2. Use consistent amounts of solute and solvent: 1/4 microspatula of solute and 1 mL of the solvent.
3. For slightly soluble substances, use as little of the solute as possible and work up to the 1/4 microspatula. Use
just 1 crystal of I2. CAUTION: iodine causes stains and can burn the skin.
4. Hexanes must be used and stored in the fume hood.
5. All solutions must be poured into the proper waste container as directed by your teacher.

POLARITY AND SOLUBILITY DATA

KNO3 (P) NaCl (P) Glucose (P?) Paraffin Wax (NP) Iodine (NP)
Water (P)
Ethanol (B)
Hexanes (NP)

FREQUENCY CHART
Record the number of times you obtained the following combinations:
Solvent Solute Insoluble Slightly Soluble Soluble
Polar Polar
Both Polar
Both Nonpolar
Nonpolar Polar
Polar Nonpolar
Nonpolar Nonpolar
Date: _______________ Name: _____________________________ Hour: _____
Date: _______________ Name: _____________________________ Hour: _____
Analysis Questions

1. Did your data fit the expected results? Explain.

2. Explain and sketch, on an intermolecular level, why polar solvents can dissolve polar solutes.

3. Explain and sketch, on an intermolecular level, why polar solvents are not good at dissolving nonpolar
solutes.

4. Water is able to dissolve a few nonpolar solutes. Explain and sketch how this could be caused by London
dispersion forces.