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Experiment #1
Chemistry 1552/M,T,TH
June 1, 2015
Concept of experiment:
This experiment is split into parts. The first part involves testing which solutes
dissolve in water and then in hexane. The second part of the experiment tests at
which temperature a given amount of KNO3 in 100g of water will dissolve.
For the first part of the experiment, students are expected to test known rules
such as the like dissolves like rule, which states that polar solvents are best at
dissolving polar compounds (and similarly with non-polar solvents). The pre-lab (see
annexed sheets) should determine what type of compounds the solutes being used
in this lab are identified as. Given these determinations, students are to test the
solubility in water (polar) and hexane (non-polar).
For the second part of the experiment, students will determine the
solubility of potassium nitrate at a given temperature. The purpose of this is to plot
a solubility curve for potassium nitrate. This is to ultimately see how temperature
affects solubility. While some substances dissolve better at higher temperatures vs.
lower temperatures, students in this lab may find that lower amounts of KNO3 will
take longer to dissolve than groups assigned larger masses.
amount of solute to a single test tube, shake, and observe results. Do this with all of
the solutes.
For part two, students will be assigned a mass of KNO3. The KNO3 will be
placed in a test tube filled with 10mL of water which is then placed in a hot bath.
The solution should be stirred until the KNO3 dissolves. Once dissolved, the tube
should be removed and the temperature should be taken until the precipitate
appears again. This temperature should be recorded and the trial should be
repeated.
Results:
For the raw data of the first part of the experiment (including observations),
please see the annexed papers.
The results of the second experiment shows that as the amount of KNO3 in
100g of water was increased, the temperature required to see the precipitate first
appear gradually decreases. This is seen best in the ideal solubility curve in the
ideal graph below, while the graph of collected data somewhat mimics this result.
Temperature (*C)
50
40
30
20
10
0
50
100
150
200
250
Temperature (*C)
40
30
20
10
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Calculations:
In order to determine the solubility of KNO3 in solute in grams/100g Water,
the following calculations were used:
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For part one, since the amount of water and hexane is about 5mL and a
small amount of solute is to be used, for some experiments the solute might not
dissolve all the way. However, the solute is clearly dissolving. This is because the
solution may be supersaturated. However, this is still a sign that the solute is
dissolving.
Post-Lab Questions:
1. Why did the substances in part 1 dissolve in either water or hexane based on
their inter-particular forces (ion-dipole, London dispersion etc)? Were these
-
forces are the weakest. This is because if intermolecular forces are strong,
then liquid molecules will not turn into vapor molecules easily, thus creating a
larger boiling point.
4. Based on the class data for part 2, does the solubility of KNO3 increase or
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Our individual data point was consistent with the class data. Our group was
expected to have a point of between 30-40 degrees Celsius, and our average
was 30.14 degrees Celsius. The error analysis was left blank because under
proper execution this experiment shouldnt hold much room for experimental
error. Some errors that could occur, as explained in the lab manual, are if the
solution is cooled too quickly (if an ice bath is used to cool the solution) then
precipitate may form very quickly making it difficult to tell what temperature
the precipitate formed. Other possibilities might include any debris left on the
thermometer that could cause a false precipitate to appear. This could be
improved by allotting more time for the solution to cool naturally and
checking to see if there are any contaminants in the test tube or on the
thermometer.