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

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

Last Name, First Name MI.

Department of Pure And Applied Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte,
Philippines 6521-A
Bachelor of Science in ________

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 hypothesize 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 was 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

Temperature at Saturation
Amount of KCl Water Volume Solubility
Trials (℃)
(in g) (in mL ) (in g/100 mL)
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 mLwater

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/100 mL)
(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 C e2 ( S O 4 )3solubility 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 30 oC 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 infer 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 speciess

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