Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry

College of Arts and Sciences

Visayas State University
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE (°C) ON THE SOLUBILITY (g/100mL) OF

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

Group Members:
Last Name, First Name MI.
 INTRODUCTION

Solutions consist of a solute and a solvent. The solute is usually a solid that

dissolves in the solvent. Salts are common solutes and water is by far the most common

solvent. Some substances are insoluble in water, but many more substances are soluble

in water to some degree. The solubility of a substance in water depends on several

factors. One of the most important factors is temperature. However, there is a limiting

amount of salt that will dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a given temperature. For

most of the solutions the amount of salt dissolved in water increases as the temperature

is increased sometimes very markedly. A solution that contains a maximum amount of

solute a given temperature is saturated. The term solubility refers to the concentration of

a saturated solution. Since, solubility varies with the temperature of the solvent. Then,

solubility must be expressed as quantity of solute per quantity of solvent at a specific

temperature. For most ionic solids, especially salts, in water, solubility varies directly with

temperature. That is, the higher the temperature of the solvent (water), the more solute

(salt) that will dissolve it. Thus, it was hypothesized that in this experiment the KCl’s

solubility generally increases with increasing temperature.

The main focus of was to observe the effect of temperature on the solubility of

KCl. Different quantities of KCl were dissolved in a given amount of water at a

temperature close to the water’s boiling point. After the solubility data have been

collected, the concentration of the solution at a given amount of KCl was calculated and

a curve between the solubility (g in solute per 100 mL solvent) and temperature was

plotted. The use of first-aid instant cold packs is an application of this solubility principle.
The salt such as ammonium nitrate’s dissolving reaction is endothermic - requires heat.

Therefore the heat is drawn from the surroundings, the pack feels cold.

This experiment aims to determine the temperature (°C) at saturation of a given

quantity of potassium chloride. It also aims to calculate the solubility (g/100 mL) of KCl

at different temperatures and express results graphically.

 METHODOLOGY

There were six different quantities of KCl used. The potassium chloride was

weighed in different amounts in grams before proceeding to the actual experimental

procedure. The amounts of KCl used were listed in the following results in table 1. Then,

they were distributed in clean, dry test tubes. (In some cases, to speed up the work, water

in the beaker was heated in advance.)

In an actual experiment procedure, there were 2 test tubes prepared for each six

different quantities of KCl for its trial 1 and trial 2. For each test tube, these were the

following procedures repeated:

In a test tube with a certain amount of KCl, 5 mL of water was added. Then, the

solution was stirred using a thermometer for about one minute. The test tube with

thermometer was then placed in a 250 mL beaker with 150 mL water. That was done in

order to find the exact temperature of 5 mL water which became saturated with a given

quantity of KCl. Next, the water was heated while stirred with thermometer. When the

solid was about to completely dissolved, the heating process was stopped because its

temperature would still continue to rise and dissolve the solid even though it was not

heated anymore. In some cases, if it still wouldn’t dissolve, then it should be heated

continuously. When the solid was fully dissolved, the test tube was taken out of the

beaker. It was cooled down until a slight sign of precipitation occurred. The solution was

then continuously stirred while it was cooled down. The temperature at which precipitate

appeared in both the trial 1 and trial 2 were recorded immediately in the table 1a below

to get the exact temperature in which the solubility of KCl starts to saturate.
Table 1a: Blank Data Table for the Experimental Results

Amount of Temperature at Saturation

Water Volume Solubility
𝑲𝑪𝒍 Trials (℃)
(in 𝒎𝑳) (in 𝒈/𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎𝑳)
(in 𝒈) 1st 2nd Average

1.77 5

1.92 5

2.05 5

2.27 5

2.41 5

2.54 5

After the experiment was carried out, the average temperature for the 2 trials of a

given quantity of KCl were calculated. Then, the solubility of KCl in g/100 mL at different

temperatures was also calculated. Then finally, for analysis, the results were expressed

in a graph where the solubility in g/100 mL was on the vertical axis and the temperature

was on the horizontal axis.

In calculating the solubility of KCl in grams per 100 mL water, proportions must be

determined. It could be calculated through the formula:

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡 (𝑔) 𝑥

=
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑚𝐿) 100 𝑚𝐿 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

Solving for x, the solubility of salt, the formula would be:

 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡 (𝑔)𝑥 100 𝑚𝐿 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑥=
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑚𝐿)

where x is the solubility of salt in units g/100 mL water.

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In a saturated solution, the solution is saturated with as much solute as possible.

To saturate the solution, it often needs to be heated. In a saturated solution, crystals or

precipitates of the solid salt would form at the bottom of the solution.

In the data table 1b, test tube 1 with 1.77 grams of KCl in 5 mL water had a

temperature at saturation of 15.0℃ for both trial 1 and 2. With an average temperature of

17.0℃, this would mean that the KCl with 1.77 g/ 5 mL was predicted to be saturated and

was likely to produce a precipitate at 17.0℃. In test tube 2, with 1.92 g/ 5 mL, a precipitate

was likely to form at 31℃ for both trial 1 and trial 2. With this, it can also be predicted that

the solution has 38.40 g/ 100 mL solubility in 31.0℃. Same goes to the other amounts of

KCl. While the amount of KCl used increases, the solubility in g/ 100 mL also increases

along with the average temperature at which precipitation occurred or at which it became

saturated solutions. The noticed formation of precipitate was seemed to be about 5% or

less than the original amount.

Table 1b: Solubility of 𝐾𝐶𝑙 at Different Temperatures

Amount of Water Temperature at Saturation

Solubility
𝑲𝑪𝒍 Volume Trials (℃)
(in 𝒈/𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎𝑳)
(in 𝒈) (in 𝒎𝑳) 1st 2nd Average
1.77 5 35.4 15.0 15.0 15.0
1.92 5 38.4 31.0 31.0 31.0
2.05 5 41.0 52.0 49.0 50.5
2.27 5 45.5 55.0 55.0 55.0
2.41 5 48.2 64.0 65.0 64.5
2.54 5 50.8 78.0 79.0 78.5
 As an overall, from the data table, it was shown that as the greater amount of KCl

dissolve in every 5 mL of water; its quantity of solute per quantity of solvent was also

increasing at specific increasing temperature. In other words, the solubility of varied

amounts of KCl increases as the temperature of water increases. Then, the solubility

curve of KCl should look like the graph 1 below. As what was shown, it could easily be

conclude that the solubility of KCl typically depends on the temperature of the water. This

temperature dependence is sometimes referred to as retrograde or inverse solubility, and

exists when a salt's dissolution is exothermic; this can be explained because, according

to Le Chatelier's principle, extra heat will cause the equilibrium for an exothermic process

to shift towards the reactants (Boundless 2016).

Solubility of KCl vs. Temperature

60
Solubility of KCl in 100mL Water

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Temperature in ͦC
Solubility of KCl in 100mL Water

Figure 1: Effects of Temperature on the Solubility of 𝐾𝐶𝑙

From this plot, it can be predict that most likely at 31℃, the solubility of KCl in 100

mL would be 38.40g/ 100 mL. At 41℃, there would be 50.5g/ 100 mL solubility of KCl.
The solubility of KCl increases as the temperature increases. The relationship in this

graph is nonlinear.

The solubility of solutes is dependent on temperature. When a solid dissolves in a

liquid, a change in the physical state of the solid is analogous to melting that takes place.

Heat is required to break the bonds holding the molecules in the solid together. At the

same time, heat is given off during the formation of new solute -- solvent bonds. If the

heat given off in the dissolving reaction is less than the heat required to break apart the

solid, the net dissolving reaction is endothermic (energy required). The addition of more

heat facilitates the dissolving reaction by providing energy to break bonds in the solid.

This is the most common situation where an increase in temperature produces an

increase in solubility for solids. (Ophardt 2003)

Intermolecular forces are those forces that hold molecules together as solids and

liquids. The cations and anions of an ionic compound are held together in the solid state

by complexing with many ions of the opposite charge. For example, hydrogen bonding

gives water many of its extraordinary properties and salts dissolve in water because their

charges line up with the partial charges on water. Water molecules surround each ion,

resulting in a three-dimensional “solvent cage” around the charged particle (figure1).

(Austin Peay State University Department of Chemistry n.d.)

 Figure 2: Depiction of solvent cage breaking the ionic bond in potassium chloride.

The temperature also affects the kinetic energy in the solution. Increase

in kinetic energy that comes with higher temperatures allows the solvent molecules to

more effectively break apart the solute molecules that are held together

by intermolecular attractions. The increased vibration (kinetic energy) of the solute

molecules causes them to dissolve more readily because they are less able to hold

together. The average kinetic energy of the solute molecules also increases with

temperature, and it destabilizes the solid state. The increased vibration (kinetic energy)

of the solute molecules causes them to be less able to hold together, and thus they

dissolve more readily.

Just like the solubility curve of KCl, the solubility curves may be produced in a

similar way for other salts (figure 2). Each salt acts differently when dissolved in water at

specific temperatures, and this is due to the physical properties of the ions in each salt.

Temperature is an important factor in the solubility of salts. Imagine trying to dissolve

sugar in a cold iced tea compared to dissolving sugar in hot tea. The hot tea dissolves

sugar much easier. This is also the case with salts. Hot water dissolves salt faster than

cold water but does not necessarily dissolve more salt than cold water. While many salts
do have higher solubility in hot water compared to cold water, some salts actually have

less solubility in hotter water.

Figure 2: Solubility Curve of Salts

This chart shows the solubility of various substances in water at a variety of

temperatures (in degrees Celsius). Notice how NaCl and KCl's solubility are relatively

constant regardless of temperature, whereas 𝐶𝑒2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 solubility decreases

exponentially over 0–35 degrees Celsius and then abruptly begins to be constant.

Those values above in table 1b are the amount of KCl solute that will dissolve and

form a saturated solution at the temperature. A saturated solution is one where there is

equilibrium between undissolved solute and dissolved solute.

KCl(s) → K1+(aq) + Cl1-(aq)

The solvent cannot dissolve more solvent at that temperature. The solubility can

be increased if the temperature is increased. The table 1b shows that solubility of KCl
usually increases with increasing temperature. But in the solubility curves of some

common inorganic compounds (figure 2), clearly there are exceptions such as Ce2(SO4)3.

For application, here is the reading for figure 2’s solubility plot: A saturated KCl

solution at 10oC will have 31 grams of KCl dissolved in 100 grams of water. If there are

40 grams of KCl are in the container, then there will be 9 grams of undissolved KCl

remaining in the solid.

Raising the temperature of the mixture to 30oC will increase the amount of

dissolved KCl to 37 grams and there will be only 3 grams of solid undissolved. The entire

40 grams can be dissolved if the temperature is raised above 40oC.

Cooling the hot 40oC solution will reverse the process. When the temperature

decreased to 20oC the solubility will eventually be decreased to 34 gram KCl. There is a

time delay before the extra 6 grams of dissolved KCl crystallizes. This solution is

"supersaturated" and is a temporary condition. The "extra" solute will come out of solution

when the randomly moving solute particles can form the crystal pattern of the solid. A

"seed" crystal is sometimes needed to provide the surface for solute particles to

crystallize on and establish equilibrium. (Volland 2005)

 CONCLUSION

From the experiment, it was infer that solubility varies directly with the temperature

of the solvent. Therefore, the higher the temperature of the solvent (water), the more

solute (salt) was dissolved. It can also be concluded that as the temperature of

a solution is increased, the average kinetic energy of the molecules that make up the

solution also increases.

It can also be inferred that by using the solubility curves of different solutes, it is

possible to develop a simple method for separating substances. The solubility curves

help to determine the temperature at which one salt could be recovered in a pure state

from a mixture of salts. This process is called fractional crystallization. It is used

extensively to purify salts which are contaminated by small amounts of other soluble

species
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