CHEMISTRY R122

OXNARD COLLEGE

EXPERIMENT 5 – DETERMINATION OF THE SOLUBILITY PRODUCT

CONSTANT OF Ca(OH)2

INTRODUCTION

When we term a chemical compound “insoluble” in a particular solvent, we do not mean

that none of the compound dissolves in the solvent, only that very little does. The words
“soluble” and “insoluble” are only qualitative ways to describe the dissolving properties of a
substance. A quantitative description of the solubility is given by the equilibrium constant, K sp,
the solubility product constant. This constant is related to the concentrations of constituent ions
of an ionic substance that are dissolved in a solvent and are at equilibrium with an excess of
undissolved substance. A solution having an equilibrium containing ionic species at the
maximum concentration allowed by the value of Ksp is said to be a saturated solution.

Each slightly soluble ionic substance is characterized by a solubility product constant,

Ksp, which has a definite numerical value at a given temperature in a given solvent. The
mathematical form of the Ksp equation for an ionic substance is the product of the molar
concentrations of the ions, each concentration term raised to a power equal to the coefficient of
that ion in the balanced chemical equation for the dissolving of the substance, as illustrated in the
following examples:

AgCl (s) = Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) Ksp = [Ag+][Cl-]

Mg(OH)2 (s) = Mg2+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) Ksp = [Mg2+][OH-]2

Ca3(PO4)2 (s) = 3 Ca2+ (aq) + 2 PO43- (aq) Ksp =

[Ca2+]3[PO43-]2

Solubility product constants can be obtained by several different experimental

procedures. We shall use the simplest approach, which involves the direct determination of the
molar solubility of the compound in water. A weighed sample of the compound is placed into a
fixed volume of water and is allowed to dissolve until a saturated solution is obtained. Some
solid must remain at this point; otherwise we are unsure that the solution is saturated. The excess
solid is filtered off and weighed. The amount of the solid that dissolved is the difference
between the mass left undissolved and the original mass.

A sample calculation involving this method will be illustrated for the case of Ag 2SO4.
Let us say that we have determined the solubility of Ag 2SO4 to be 8.00 x l0-1 g per 100 mL of
water. This weight solubility is first converted to a molar solubility:
Molar solubility of Ag2SO4 = 8.00 x l0-1 g x 1 mole = 2.6 x l0-2 mol/liter
0.100 L 312 g

(For all practical purposes, 100 mL of water is the same as 100 mL of solution.)
 For a saturated solution of Ag2SO4, the equilibrium involved is:

Ag2SO4 (s) = 2 Ag+ (aq) + SO42- (aq)

For which the equilibrium constant equation is:

Ksp = [Ag+]2[SO42-]

For each mole of Ag2SO4 that dissolves, 2 moles of Ag+ and 1 mole of SO 42- are produced in
solution. Thus, if 2.6 x 10-2 mole/L of Ag2SO4 dissolves to give a saturated solution, then the
molar concentrations of the ions in the saturated solution are:

[Ag+] = 2(2.6 x 10-2 M) and [SO42-] = 2.6 x l0-2 M

Substituting these values into the Ksp equation, the Ksp value can be calculated as:

Ksp = (5.2 x 10-2 M )2 (2.6 x 10-2 M ) = 7.0 x 10-5

Experimental Procedure

Obtain from your instructor a weighing bottle containing Ca(OH)2. Weigh the weighing
bottle and its contents to the nearest 0.1 mg. Carefully transfer about 1 g (about a 1 cubic
centimeter block or 2-3 small pea sizes) of the Ca(OH) 2 to a clean, dry 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask.
Weigh the weighing bottle and the remaining contents of Ca(OH) 2 to the nearest 0.1 mg. The
mass of Ca(OH)2 in the flask should be about 1 g.

To the Erlenmeyer flask containing Ca(OH)2, add 100.0 mL of deionized water (carefully
measured from a graduated cylinder). Stopper the flask with a clean rubber stopper and swirl
vigorously for about 15 minutes. N O T E : Be careful not to swirl the mixture so vigorously
that the solution splashes onto the rubber top so neither solution nor solid Ca(OH) 2 gets trapped
between the stopper and flask. After about 15 minutes, remove the stopper and measure the
temperature of the saturated solution. The solubility of Ca(OH) 2 varies extensively with
temperature, so it is important to note the temperature just before filtration. It is preferable that
the solution temperature be room temperature.

Assemble a suction filtration apparatus consisting of a rubber crucible holder and a

suction flask. Attach the pressure tubing to a vacuum fixture. (See figure 1) Add a circular piece
of filter paper to just cover the bottom of a clean and dry crucible. Weigh them together to the
nearest 0.1 mg.

Use a ring stand and large clamp to hold the filter flask in place when assembling the
suction filtration apparatus. This will prevent the filtration flask from falling over.
 Filtrate

Figure 1. Suction filtration apparatus and setup

Securely position the filtering crucible with the filter paper into the rubber crucible
holder. Turn the vacuum on and then pour the saturated Ca(OH) 2 solution from the flask
through the weighed filtering crucible with the suction turned on. When most of the solution has
been poured from the flask, swirl the flask and contents to put the solid Ca(OH) 2 in the flask into
suspension and transfer the solid as completely as possible to the filtering crucible. Some of the
solid Ca(OH)2 will remain in the flask. DO NOT wash with water since this would result in
dissolving some of the precipitate.

To obtain the solution to wash the remaining precipitate: Turn off the vacuum then
carefully disassemble the filtration setup. Keep the Buchner funnel clean while transferring the
filtrate (the clear colorless saturated Ca(OH)2 solution) into the original 250 mL Erlenmeyer
flask that has residual solid. Reassemble the suction filtration apparatus then turn on the
vacuum. Swirl the filtrate in the flask that contains the remaining solid Ca(OH)2 to get the solids
off the walls and into the solution. Transfer the remaining solid Ca(OH)2 to the Buchner funnel.
When the transfer of the solid Ca(OH) 2 to the crucible is as complete as possible, allow the solid
in the crucible to air dry by letting the vacuum run for another few minutes.

Measure the pH of the saturated Ca(OH)2 solution then give the remaining clean Ca(OH)2
filtrate to the instructor. You will obtain approximately 8-10 mL of acetone to wash and dry the
solid on the filter paper. Continuing to use suction, wash the Ca(OH)2 in the crucible with two
aliquots of 4-5mL of acetone, allowing the crucible to be sucked dry after each addition.
Remove the Buchner funnel from the funnel holder and wipe the crucible dry on the outside. Dry
the crucible and contents in the microwave oven for about one to two minutes. Carefully remove
it, let it cool to room temperature approximately 15 minutes, and weigh the crucible and contents
to the nearest 0.1 mg.

Work-up of Data and Calculations

After all data has been collected (attach the data table), then carry out the following calculations and
complete the attached table.

Calculations

1.
Calculate Ksp from the molar solubility of Ca(OH)2 from the weight of Ca(OH)2 that
dissolved in 100.0 mL of water.
2.
Calculate Ksp using the measured pH of the saturated Ca(OH)2 solution.

 Include the equation for the dissociation of Ca(OH)2 in your report and the Ksp equation.
 Include the accepted value for the value of K sp for Ca(OH)2 in your report and compare it
to the value you obtained experimentally. (Determine the percent error for the Ksp values
obtained from your calculations in parts 1 and 2 above).

3.
Determine the mass solubility in grams/100. mL of Ca(OH) 2. Compare the accepted
value with the mass solubility based on the graph attached at the back of the data table.
(Determine the percent error).
Applications of Principles
1.
The solubility of Ag2CrO4 is 0.024 g/L. Determine Ksp for silver chromate.

2.
Ksp for Pb(IO3)2 is 2.5 x 10-13. What weight of Pb(IO3)2 will dissolve in 200 mL
of water?

3.
What weight of PbCl2 will dissolve in 200 mL of 0.25 M NaCl solution?
4.
Calculate the weights of Mg(OH)2 that will dissolve in

(a) 250 ml of water, and

(b) 250 ml of a buffer solution with a pH of 12.00.

(a)

(b)