Title: Solubility

Aim: To determine the solubility of sodium nitrate crystals (NaNO3) in water using a graphical method.

Apparatus and materials:

 Bunsen burner
 spatula
 test tube holder
 distilled water
 watch glass
 analytical balance
 boiling tube
 measuring cylinder
 sodium nitrate crystals
 mercury thermometer

Procedure: 15g of sodium nitrate crystals were measured using an analytical balance. The salt was
transferred into a boiling tube using a spatula. 15cm3 of distilled water was measured using a measuring
cylinder then poured into the boiling tube. The now obtained sodium nitrate solution was gently heated
under the flame of the Bunsen burner. The temperature at which the sodium nitrate crystals dissolved
was measured using a thermometer, the boiling tube was then moved quickly away from the flame. An
additional 2cm3 of distilled water was poured into the same boiling tube and was placed under the
flame of the Bunsen burner to again measure the temperature at which the sodium nitrate crystals
dissolve. The procedure was repeated five times.

Table of Results:

Volume of solvent/cm3 Crystallizing temperature /°C Solubility/g per 100g of water

15 58 100
17 53 88
19 51 78
21 45 71
23 37 65
25 32 60
 Calculations:

1. Sample calculations in order to determine the solubility of sodium nitrate crystals dissolved in
various volumes of solvent.

Solubility=mass of initial salt added x 100g (mass of water)

volume of solvent

Therefore if the volume of solvent added was 15cm3

The solubility of sodium nitrate could be calculated as :

Solubility= 15g x 100g

15cm3

Therefore the solubility of 15g of sodium nitrate crystals dissolved in 15cm3of water is 100g per 100g of
water.

Example 2: If the volume added was 25cm3

The solubility of sodium nitrate could be calculated as :

Solubility= 15g x 100g

25cm3

Therefore the solubility of 15g of sodium nitrate crystals dissolved in 25cm3of water is 60g per 100g of
water.

2. Calculations in order to determine the mass of sodium nitrate crystals which will crystallise out
of the saturated solution , if the temperature is decreased.

Mass of sodium nitrate crystals= solubility of salt at initial temperature -solubility of salt at decreased temperature

If the temperature is decreased from 60°C initially to 40°C

Solubility of NaNO3 at 60°C= g per 100 g of water

Solubility of NaNO3 at 40°C= g per 100 g of water

- = g
Therefore g of NaNO3 would crystallise out if a solution containing 100g of water that is
saturated at 60°C is cooled to 40°C.

3. Calculations in order to determine the mass of sodium nitrate crystals which will resaturate a
solution , if the temperature is increased.

Mass of sodium nitrate crystals= solubility of salt at increased temperature -solubility of salt at initial temperature

If the temperature is increased from 35°C initially to 55°C

Solubility of NaNO3 at 35°C= g per 100 g of water

Solubility of NaNO3 at 55°C= g per 100 g of water

- = g

Therefore g of NaNO3 must be added to a solution containing 100g of water at 35°C to form a
saturated solution at 55°C
DISCUSSION

A mixture is a material that contains two or more substances , that are not chemically combined. A
solution is a homogenous mixture containing one or more solutes completely dissolved in a solvent.
Dissolving is a process that takes place at the molecular level and can be discussed in molecular terms.
When one substance dissolves in another, the particles of the solute disperse uniformly throughout the
solvent. The solute particles occupy positions that are normally taken by solvent molecules. The ease
with which a solute particle may replace a solvent molecule depends on the relative strengths of three
types of interactions which are solvent-solvent interaction ,solute-solute interaction and solvent-solute
interaction

Step 1 is the separation of solvent molecules. Step 2 is the separation of solute molecules. These steps
require inputs of energy to overcome attractive intermolecular forces. Step 3 is the mixing of solvent
and solute molecules. The solute will be soluble in the solvent if the solute-solvent attraction is stronger
than the solvent-solvent attraction and solute-solute attraction. Such a solution process is exothermic.
Only a relatively small amount of the solute will be dissolved if the solute-solvent interaction is weaker
than the solvent-solvent and solute-solute interaction; then the solution process will be endothermic

The solute and the solvent may be solid , liquid or gas and the component that is in the larger proportion
is considered to be the solvent. Solutions in which water is the solvent are called aqueous solutions. The
solubility of a solute is the number of grams of it that dissolve in 100 grams of solvent at a given
temperature and pressure. The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute that is dissolved in a
fixed volume of solvent. A concentrated solution contains relatively large quantities of solute dissolved
in a solvent whereas a saturated solution contains as much solute as the solvent can possibly dissolve at
a particular temperature and pressure in the presence if undissolved solute.

The extent to which a solute dissolves in a particular solvent depends on three principal factors:
temperature, pressure and the nature of the solute and solvent.

Temperature increases solubility of a solid in a liquid because as particles in a mixture are heated they
gain kinetic energy which causes the solute and solvent particles to overcome intermolecular forces and
allows them to disperse uniformly forming a solution. However the solubility of a gas in a liquid
decreases as temperature increases.The physical reason for this is that when most gases dissolve in
solution, the process is exothermic. This means that heat is released as the gas dissolves. This is very
similar to the reason that vapour pressure increases with temperature. Increased temperature causes
an increase in kinetic energy. The higher kinetic energy causes more motion in the gas molecules which
break intermolecular bonds and escape from solution.

In result in relation to the lab. it is concluded that when the temperature increased the solubility of
sodium nitrate also increased. This is shown by the solubility curve plotted on page .Sodium
nitrate is a colourless, odourless, crystalline compound, sometimes referred to as soda nitre, nitrate of
soda or Chile saltpetre. It is used for making potassium nitrate, fertilizers, explosives, in the production
of high-strength glass, some limited pharmaceuticals and to preserve meats. In the solubility curve of
sodium nitrate it is concluded that as temperature increases the solubility of the salt also increases
Liquids and solids exhibit practically no change of solubility with changes in pressure. Gases, increase in
solubility with an increase in pressure. Henry's Law states that: The solubility of a gas in a liquid is
directly proportional to the pressure of that gas above the surface of the solution. If the pressure is
increased, the gas molecules are "forced" into the solution since this will best relieve the pressure that
has been applied.

Finally the nature of the solute and solvent affects the rate of solubility. Since the rate at which the
particular solute dissolves in the solvent is dependent on the compound’s readiness to break its
intermolecular forces and distribute uniformly. In other words it is dependent on a substance’s polarity.
Polar substances (eg sodium chloride) will dissolve in polar substances (eg. water).

Another minor factor which affects solubility is stirring which s brings fresh portions of the
solvent in contact with the solute. Stirring, therefore, allows the solute to dissolve faster.

PRECAUTIONS:

1.