The Effect of Temperature On Solubility

THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SOLUBILITY
From
http://dwb.unl.edu/Chemistry/DoChem/DoChem065.html
INTRODUCTION
Students are given weighed samples of a soluble salt such as potassium nitrate. The
sample is added to 20 mL of water and heated until all of the salt dissolves. The solution
is cooled, and the temperature at which solid appears is noted. A solubility curve is
prepared by pooling the data from all of the students.
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 species.
For all solids there is a limiting amount that will dissolve in a given amount of solvent.
Some solids are very soluble in water, while others are nearly completely insoluble.
About 200 grams of ordinary sugar will dissolve in 100 grams of water at 25°C, but only
about 2 x 10-4g AgCl will dissolve under those conditions.
The solubility of a solid in a given solvent depends on the temperature of the solution.
Usually the solubility of a solid increases with increasing temperature, sometimes very
markedly. A graph which plots the solubility as a function of temperature is called the
solubility curve of the substance. Given such a graph, the solubility of the solid at any
temperature may be determined.
PURPOSE
To study the effect of temperature on solubility.
SAFETY
Burns when handling hot objects are possible. The potassium nitrate and potassium
chlorate are strong oxidizing agents.
Handle hot equipment and solutions cautiously.
These materials may be disposed of at the sink using large amounts of water.
MATERIALS
400-mL beaker Single sided buret clamp
25 x 200 mm test tube Labpro, calculator & Temp. probe
Ring stand 100 g KNO3
Hot plate 100 mL distilled water
25 mL graduated cylinder Balance and weighing paper
Westminster College SIM 1

The Effect of Temperature on Solubility
PROCEDURE
1. Set up a 400-mL beaker on a hot plate. Add about 300 mL of tap water.
2. Weigh out the amount of potassium nitrate, KNO3, assigned by the instructor. The
sample will range from 8.00 to 35.00 grams. Transfer the solid to a large test tube
and add 20 mL (20 g) of distilled water.
3. Stir the mixture to dissolve as much potassium nitrate as possible. Carefully insert
temperature probe.
4. Heat the water in the beaker with the hot plate. Clamp the test tube in water.
5. Stir the mixture gently until all of the potassium nitrate has dissolved. The
temperature may vary from 25°c to 85°C depending on the amount of potassium
nitrate in the sample
6. When all of the potassium nitrate has dissolved, loosed the clamp from the support
stand and raise the tube out of the water bath. Turn off the hot plate. Reclamp the
tube above and to one side of the beaker. Using the stirring rod, stir the solution
gently and observe it as it cools. As soon as crystallization begins, note the
temperature of the solution. It is easiest to see crystals by looking at the bottom of the
test tube where they will collect as soon as they begin to form.
7. After the crystallization temperature has been recorded, put the test tube back into the
water bath and warm the solution until all of the crystals have redissolved. Repeat the
cooling procedure to check the crystallization temperature. The two readings should
be within 1 degree of each other. If the two readings do not agree within 1 degree,
rewarm the solution in the water bath, cool it, and continue until satisfactory
agreement is obtained.
8. Your sample mass will be recorded on the blackboard; record the experimental
temperature next to it.
9. When the data from all of the student samples are recorded at the board, copy them to
draw a solubility curve for grams of potassium nitrate dissolved per 100 grams of
water. You could use a computer or calculator to do this.
DATA TABLE
mass of KNO3 saturation temp (°C) mass/100g or water

8.00 26
10.0 33
15.0 44
20.0 57
25.0 65
30.0 73
35.0 83

The Effect of Temperature on Solubility
QUESTIONS
1. Your data furnish the amount of KNO3 that will be dissolved in 20 g of water at each
temperature. For each data point, calculate the amount of KNO3 that would dissolve
in 100 g of water. Your calculations will be the solubilities of KNO3 in the water at
each of the temperatures reported.
2. Construct the solubility curve for KNO3 . Plot solubility in grams per 100 grams of
water on the y-axis and temperature on the x-axis. Extrapolate the curve to include
solubility from 10 °C to 100°C. State in words how the solubility of KNO3 varies
with temperature.
3. From your solubility curve predict:
a. The solubility of KNO3 at 100 °C.

b. The solubility of KNO3 at 10 °C.
c. The solubility of KNO3 at 25 °C in units of moles of solid/liter of solution
(molarity). The density of the solution is about 1.17 g/mL.
d. The mass percent of KNO3 in its saturated solution at 50°C.
e. The percentage of KNO3 that will crystallize out when its saturated
solution at 100 °C is cooled to 10 °C.

The Effect of Temperature On Solubility

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THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SOLUBILITY

Westminster College SIM 1

mass of KNO3 saturation temp (°C) mass/100g or water

Westminster College SIM 2

a. The solubility of KNO3 at 100 °C.

Westminster College SIM 3

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