oName:_____________________________________ Period_____ Date:__________________

Solubility Lab
Introduction:
Water is the most universal solvent on earth. Water can dissolve more substances (solutes) and form
more homogeneous solutions than any other solvent.
Model Reaction:
Solvent + Solute  Solution Example: Water + Table salt  Salt water solution

The solubility of a solute depends on several factors, such as temperature of the solvent, quantity of the
solute being dissolved and polar properties of the solute and solvent molecules. Remember that water is
a polar molecule and this explains cohesion, adhesion and surface tension
The same polar properties help explain why some things are soluble in water and some substances are
not soluble in water. Solutes that do not dissolve in water are called insoluble. If we wish to form a
solution with these solutes that are insoluble in water we must use another solvent. Rubbing alcohol is
another solvent that we can use to try to form solutions. Rubbing alcohol is not as polar as water.

Variables:
Part 1: Solubility of different solutes
Independent: solubility of each solute in each solvent
Dependent: how well each solute dissolves (disappears)
Controlled: Use same amounts of each solvent and solute
Stir each mixture the same number of times
Part 2: How does heat affect solubility?
Independent: temperature of the solvent
Dependent: how fast the solute dissolves
Controlled: Use same size sugar cube and same amount of water. Stir each mixture the
same.
Part 3: How does surface area affect solubility?
Independent: surface area of solute
Dependent: how fast the solute dissolves
Controlled: use same mass of

Equipment Notes:
To reduce errors, use only the instructed amounts of each substance.

Safety: Wear goggles at all times when working with chemicals. Wash hands when done.
 Problem Statement:
Part 1: To investigate which of 5 solutes will dissolve or partially dissolve in H2O and which in
rubbing alcohol by combining small amounts of each solute with each solvent and observing how much
the solute dissolves.
Part 2: To investigate how heat affects the rate of solubility by comparing how fast a sugar cube
dissolves in tap water and hot water.
Part 3: To investigate how surface area affects the rate of solubility by comparing how fast a sugar
cube to how the rate that granular sugar dissolves.

Hypothesis:
Part 1.
If a polar solvent dissolves polar solutes then water will dissolve these solutes: .
Part 2.
If temperature affects the rate of solubility, then as temperature increases, the rate of dissolving will
_
Part 3:
If surface area affects the rate of solubility, then as surface area of the solute increases, the rate of
dissolving will ________________________________________

Materials:
Spot plate, toothpicks, beakers
Solvents: Water, Alcohol
Solutes: Sugar (granular, cube), brown sugar, sodium bicarbonate,
table salt, liquid soap, cooking oil

Procedure:
Part 1: Solubility of different solutes
1) Fill 5 wells half way with solvent (water)
2) Add solutes:
2 drops for liquids
a few grains for solids (don’t use too much)
3) Stir 5 times with a toothpick
4) Observe & record if Fully Soluble, Partially Soluble or Insoluble
5) Clean out spot plates with paper towel
6) Repeat steps 1-6 using rubbing alcohol as solvent
Part 2: How does heat affect solubility?
1) Measure 50.0 mL of room temperature tap water and put the water in a small beaker.
2) Add a sugar cube to the beaker of water and time how long it takes for the sugar cube to
dissolve (disappear). While timing, continually stir the water without stabbing or breaking
the sugar cube. Record the time it takes for the cube to completely dissolve.
3) Repeat steps 1-2 using the hot water instead of tap water. Record results.
Part 3: How does surface area affect solubility?
1) Weigh a new sugar cube. Record its mass.
2) Measure 50.0 mL of room temperature tap water and put the water in a small beaker.
3) Add the sugar cube to the beaker of water and time how long it takes for the sugar to dissolve
(disappear). While timing, continually stir the water. Record the time it takes for the sugar to
completely dissolve.
4) Measure out an amount of granular sugar that equals the mass of your sugar cube.
5) Repeat step 2 and 3 using the granular sugar.
Data Collection:
Title:
Solutes Solvents
Water Rubbing Alcohol
Brown sugar

Sodium bicarbonate
(NaHCO3)
Table salt (NaCl)

Liquid soap

Cooking oil

Title:
Solute and solvent Time to dissolve (s)
Sugar cube in tap water
Sugar cube in hot water

Title:
Solute and solvent Mass of solute (g) Time to dissolve (s)
Sugar cube in tap water
Granular sugar in tap water

Results:
1) What happened in Part 1? What trend exists between the polar and non-polar solutes and
which solvent they dissolve in?

What happened in part 2?

What happened in part 3?

2) Do these results support your hypotheses?

Conclusion:
Explain why certain solutes dissolve in certain solvent. Use appropriate terms.
Explain why temperature and surface affect rate of dissolving. Include any unavoidable errors
that may have affected your results. Use the back of this paper or attach an additional sheet for
your answer.