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ACTIVITY Properties of Solutions in Water Section Schedule


1
Instructor Date

ACTIVITY 1
Properties of Solutions in Water

INTRODUCTION

I. Aqueous Chemistry

A. The importance of water


Water is one of the most important chemicals and one of the most abundant compounds on the
earth. It is an excellent solvent, a compound that can dissolve other substances. Many atoms,
molecules and ions can dissolve in water, forming aqueous solution. Materials that dissolve in a solvent
are called solutes.

B. Properties of water
Water is a polar molecule because of an unequal or uneven distribution of charges. It has a
slightly negative pole and a slightly positive pole. The polar nature of the water molecule is responsible
for its property of dissolving many materials. Most compounds that have polar molecules are soluble in
water. Most compounds that contain ionic bonds are also water soluble. Substances that dissolve in
water are described as hydrophilic (water loving). Non-polar molecules such as hydrocarbons and lipids
are usually insoluble in water. Substances that do not dissolve in water are described as hydrophobic
(water fearing).
Water is an essential component of the human body. It is essential in the processes of digestion,
circulation, excretion, and regulation of body temperature. Every activity of every cell of the human body
takes place in a water environment. The cytoplasm is the gelatinous material that fills the living cells and
is a mixture composed mainly of water. Substances are present as colloidal dispersions or as solutions.

C. Concentration of solutions
Solutions consists of a solute and a solvent.. Solutions are clear and homogenous, have a
variable composition, do not settle, maybe separated by physical means and pass through filter papers.
Solutions may be labelled as dilute or concentrated, as saturated or unsaturated, which are relative terms
and do not indicate any definite amount of solute and solvent. Definite concentrations of solutions can be
expressed as percent by weight, percent by volume, parts per million (ppm), molarity, molality or
normality. Most health professions use percent by weight or percent by volume while chemists use
molarity in expressing concentrations. Percent by weight is the grams of solute per 100 grams of solvent,
while percent by volume is the millilitre (mL) of solute per 100 mL of solvent. A molar solution contains 1
mole of solute per liter (L) of solution.

D. Electrolytes and non-electrolytes


Compounds such as NaCl contain many ions. Ions with opposite charges are attracted to each
other, leading to the formation of ionic bonds within the crystals of the compound. When NaCl dissolves
in water, the individual ions dissociate and move about independently in the solution. Pure distilled water
does not conduct electricity. After ions dissolve in water, the solution becomes a good conductor of
electric current. This is due to the presence of the mobile charged particles, called ions that have been
released in the solution. Solutes that release ions in solution are called electrolytes and they conduct
electric current. Molecules such as sugar contain polar covalent bonds and are polar molecules. When
crystals of sugar dissolve in water, the molecules of sugar move about independently of other sugar
molecules. The covalent bonds that link the atoms together in one sugar molecule do not dissociate. No
ions are released and the sugar molecules are not charged. A sugar solution does not conduct current.
Solutes of this type are non-electrolytes and they do not conduct electricity.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________Activity 7

The electrolytes are divided into three groups: acids, bases and salts. Acids are compounds that
can release hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution. Such compounds usually contain hydrogen linked to
an element or group. Some common acids are hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitric acid
(HNO3) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Bases also called alkalis release the hydroxide ion (OH-) in
aqueous solution. Some common bases are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH),
calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). Salts are electrolytes that release ions
other than H+ or OH- in solution. Some common salts are sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium sulfate
(CaSO4) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl).

OBJECTIVES
1. To determine solubility of substances in water.
2. To classify electrolytes and non-electrolytes and their ability to conduct electric current.

MATERIALS
600 ml beaker (8), conductivity apparatus

REAGENTS
sodium chloride solution, potassium iodide solution, ethyl alcohol, chloroform, sucrose solution, dilute
hydrochloric acid, distilled water, tap water, wash bottle with distilled water

PROCEDURE

A. Fill in the table below. First, determine whether the compound contains ionic or covalent bonds.
If it contains covalent bonds, predict whether the molecule will be polar or nonpolar. Then predict
whether the compound will be soluble in water

Compound Type of bond and Water solubility Hydrophilic/


molecule Hydrophobic
MgCl2
Sucrose C12H22O11
Ammonia NH3
Propane C3H8
NaF
CH4

B. Fill in the table below. For each compound, determine whether the molecule is soluble in water.
For those that are, determine whether they are electrolytes or non-electrolytes. Explain your
reasons for each answer.

Compound Water solubility Electrolyte or non- Reason


electrolyte
C5H12
CH4O
C5H10O5
KBr
C4H10
Ca(OH)2
_________________________________________________________________________________________________Activity 7

C. Complete the table below. For each acid/base, fill in the number and kind of positive ions
released and the number and kind of negative ions released.
Acid Positive ion released Negative ion released
HCl
H2SO4
HNO3
H3PO4
Base
NaOH
KOH
Ca(OH)2
NH4OH

D. Difference in electrical conductivity (demo set up for the class)

1. Place 200 ml of each of the following solutions in a 600 ml beaker: sodium chloride solution,
potassium iodide solution, ethyl alcohol, chloroform, sucrose solution, dilute hydrochloric acid,
distilled water, and tap water.
2. Using an electrical conductivity apparatus, determine which of the solutions conduct electricity and
which do not. Use the + symbols to signify conduction and – symbol for non-conduction. You may
indicate the degree of conduction by comparing the intensity of light using several + symbols.

Solution Conductor Nonconductor


NaCl solution
KI solution
Ethyl alcohol
Chloroform
Sucrose solution
Dilute HCl
Distilled water
Tap water

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