Experiment 1: Concept of Solubility & Miscibility: A. Solids in Liquids
Experiment 1: Concept of Solubility & Miscibility: A. Solids in Liquids
OBJECTIVES
To become familiar with the components of a solution
2.
3.
4.
MATERIALS
Test tube rack, 9 small test tubes, 3 rubber stoppers, spatula, hexane (C 6H14), ethanol
(C2H5OH), sodium chloride (NaCl), oxalic acid [(COOH) 2], paraffin, cooking oil,
methylene chloride (CH2Cl2), iodine (I2) or potassium iodide solution (KI)
PROCEDURES
A.
Solids in Liquids
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Weigh 1.0 g sodium chloride and put it into test tube 1, 4 and 7, each.
6.
Shake the mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds. Observe whether the solute
dissolve in the solution or not. Record the data in Table 1.
7.
Weigh 1.0 g oxalic acid and put it into test tube 2, 5 and 8, each. Repeat step 6.
8.
Weigh 1.0 g paraffin and put in into test tube 3, 6 and 9, each. Repeat step 6.
CAUTION: Hexane and ethanol are very volatile and very flammable liquids. While working
with them, absolutely no bunsen burner flames should be in the nearby vicinity.
Table 1
Solute
Solvent
Sodium chloride
Oxalic acid
Paraffin
Water
Ethanol
Hexane
B.
Miscibility of Liquids
1.
Add water, ethanol and hexane to 3 different test tubes (approximately full). Add 1
mL cooking oil to each of the test tubes. Froth gently to mix. Record your
observations in Table 2.
Table 2
Solvent
Observations
Water
Ethanol
Hexane
C.
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: _________________________________
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?
_________________________________________________________________
DISCUSSION
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:
Solvents:
Ethanol, hexane
2. Infer the nature (polar or nonpolar) of cooking oil. Give reasons for your answer.
EXERCISE
1.
2.
3.
a.
CaCO3
b.
ZnSO4
c.
Hg(NO3)2
d.
NH4ClO4
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.