EXPERIMENT 1: CONCEPT OF SOLUBILITY & MISCIBILITY

OBJECTIVES

To become familiar with the components of a solution

2. To examine some of the terms and concepts associated with solutions.
3. To investigate solute and solvent interaction.
4. To learn to make inferences about the nature of substances, based on their solubility or
miscibility.

PROCEDURES

Required PPE : Goggles/safety glass, Lab Coat, Shoes, Gloves

NO SEQUENCE OF STEPS POTENTIAL PREVENTATIVE
HAZARDS MEASURES
i Chemicals Hexane : Irritant i . Wear proper PPE
Ethanol : Irritant ii. Handle chemicals
Hexane (C6H14),
NaCl : Irritant carefully to avoid spillage
Ethanol (C2H5OH),
(COOH)2 :Irritant iii. Safety Briefing prior start
Sodium chloride (NaCl),
Paraffin : Irritant the class
Oxalic acid [(COOH)2],
CH2Cl2 : Irritant iv. Use fume hood
Paraffin,
Iodine : Corrosive
Cooking oil,
KI : Irritant
Methylene chloride (CH2Cl2),
Iodine (I2) or potassium iodide solution
(KI)

A. Solids in Liquids
1 Label nine test tubes as 1 to 9. Nil Nil

2 Fill test tube 1, 2 and 3 with distilled i . Spillage i . Training on handling of

water (approximately ¼ full). ii. Hazardous chemical pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
Fill test tube 4, 5 and 6 with ethanol carefully to avoid spillage
(approximately ¼ full). iii. Wear proper PPE

Fill test tube 7, 8 and 9 with hexane

(approximately ¼ full).

3 Weigh 1.0 g sodium chloride and put it i . Spillage i. Handle chemicals

into test tube 1, 4 and 7, each. carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE

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4 Shake the mixture vigorously for about 30 i . Spillage i. Handle chemicals
seconds. carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE
Observe whether the solute dissolve in the iii. Wash thoroughly after
solution or not. handling

Record the data in Table 1.

5 Weigh 1.0 g oxalic acid and put it into test i . Spillage i. Handle chemicals
tube 2, 5 and 8, each. Repeat step 4. carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE
Weigh 1.0 g paraffin and put in into test
tube 3, 6 and 9, each. Repeat step 4.

B. Miscibility of Liquids
6 Add water, ethanol and hexane to 3 i . Spillage i . Training on handling of
different test tubes (approximately ¼ full). pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
Add 1 mL cooking oil to each of the test carefully to avoid spillage
tubes. Froth gently to mix. iii. Wear proper PPE

Record your observations in Table 2.

C. The Relative Solubility of a Solute in Two Solvents

7 Mix 2 ml methylene chloride and 4 ml i . Spillage i. Handle chemicals
water. carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE
Observe the relative position of each iii. Wash thoroughly after
liquid, by noting the volume of each handling
liquid.

Shake the mixture for five seconds and

allow the liquid to separate. What do you
observe?

8 Add 2 drops of an iodine or potassium i . Spillage i . Training on handling of

iodide solution to the test tube. pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
Note the colour of each layer and their carefully to avoid spillage
intensities. iii. wear proper PPE

9 Shake the test tube gently for 20 seconds. i . Spillage i. Handle chemicals
Allow the liquids to separate. carefully to avoid spillage
ii. wear proper PPE
Note again the colour of each layer. iii. Wash thoroughly after
handling
10 Based on the relative intensity of the Nil Nil
colours of the 2 layers, in which solvent is
the iodine more soluble?

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RESULTS

A. Solids in Liquids

Table 1
Solute
Solvent
Sodium chloride Oxalic acid Paraffin

Water 1 2 3

Ethanol 4 5 6

Hexane 7 8 9

B. Miscibility of Liquids
Table 2
Solvent Observations

Water

Ethanol

Hexane

C. The Relative Solubility of a Solute in Two Solvents

1. Mix 2 ml methylene chloride and 4 ml water. Observe the relative position of each
liquid, by noting the volume of each liquid. Shake the mixture for five seconds and
allow the liquid to separate. What do you observe?
Observations: ______________________________________________________

2. Add 2 drops of an iodine or potassium iodide solution to the test tube and note the
colour of each layer and their intensities.
Colour of the aqueous layer: __________________________________________
Colour of the methylene chloride layer: _________________________________

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3. Shake the test tube gently for 20 seconds. Allow the liquids to separate and note again
the colour of each layer.
Colour of the aqueous layer: __________________________________________
Colour of the methylene chloride layer: _________________________________

4. Based on the relative intensity of the colours of the 2 layers, in which solvent is the
iodine more soluble?
_________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSIONS

1. Using the solubility results obtained in this experiment, and knowing that sodium chloride
is ionic and water is very polar, make inferences about the nature (polar or nonpolar)
of each of the following solutes and solvents.
Solutes: Oxalic acid, paraffin
Solvents: Ethanol, hexane
2. Infer the nature (polar or nonpolar) of cooking oil. Give reasons for your answer.

EXERCISE

1. Explain the difference between miscible and soluble.

2. Characterize these compounds as soluble or insoluble in water
a. CaCO3
b. ZnSO4
c. Hg(NO3)2
d. NH4ClO4
3. While working in a machine shop you spilt a spot of grease on your shirt sleeve. In
order to remove it, what would you use as a solvent with which to wash the spot?
Water, ethanol or hexane? Explain why.