Solutions and Solubility

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Learning goals

Identify the solute and solvent in a solution

Define the terms solubility, maximum solubility or
saturation point, precipitate, 'saturated, 'unsaturated'
and 'supersaturated'
Use solubility curves to determine maximum ratios of
solute to solvent
Calculate the mass of the precipitate that is formed when
a saturated solution is cooled
Explain the effect of temperature on the solubility of a
solid solute in a liquid solvent.
Explain the effect of pressure on the solubility of a
gaseous solute in a liquid solvent.

21.2 Water and solutions

A solution is a
mixture of two or
more substances that
is homogeneous at
the molecular level.
Homogeneous means
the particles are
evenly distributed.

21.2 Water as a mixture

Muddy water is heterogeneous

because it contains larger particles of
soil or plant debris.

21.2 Water and solutions

A solution contains at least two
components: a solvent, and a solute.
The solvent is the part of a mixture
that is present in the greatest amount.

Which of these
is the solvent?

21.2 Water and solutions

When the solute particles are evenly
distributed throughout the solvent,
we say that the solute has dissolved.

Parts of a Solution
SOLUTE the part
of a solution that
is being dissolved
(usually the lesser
amount)
SOLVENT the
part of a solution
that dissolves the
solute (usually the
greater amount)
Solute + Solvent
= Solution

Solute Solvent

Example

solid

solid

Metal alloys

solid

liquid

Salt water

gas

solid

Moth balls

liquid

liquid

Alcohol in water

gas

liquid

soda

gas

gas

air

Water is a good solvent

For example, sugar and ethanol which have one or more -OH groups
such as HCl (shared electron pair goes with the more
electronegative Cl atom)

NaCl Na+ + ClForm ion-dipole attraction, positive ends of water molecule are
attracted to the anions. However, not all ionic compounds are water
soluble, highly insoluble, e.g., AgCl

Solubility
Solubility is

the maximum amount of solute that dissolves in a

specific amount of solvent at a given temperature or
pressure.
expressed as grams of solute in 100 grams of solvent
water.
g of solute
100 g water

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Unsaturated Solutions
Unsaturated solutions

contain less than the maximum

amount of solute that can
dissolve at a particular
temperature.
Dissolved
solute

can dissolve more solute.

When a solution is unsaturated

its concentration is lower than
the maximum solubility.
Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

11

Saturated Solutions
Saturated solutions

contain the maximum amount

of solute that can dissolve at
that temperature.
have undissolved solute at the
bottom of the container
(precipitate).
An example of a saturated
solution is air.
Air can be saturated with
water. (We call it humidity!)

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Supersaturated Solutions
Supersaturated solutions
An unstable solution that contains an
amount of solute greater than the
solute solubility, i.e., contains more
dissolved solute than is possible to be
dissolved (maximum solubility).
Also has undissolved solute at the
bottom of the container (precipitate).
One application of a supersaturated
solution is the sodium acetate heat
pack.
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Supersaturated Solutions
The supersaturation is only
temporary, and usually
accomplished in one of two ways:
1.

2.

Warm the solvent so that it will

dissolve more, then cool the
solution
Evaporate some of the solvent
carefully so that the solute does not
solidify and come out of solution.

Temperature and Solubility of

Solids
Temperature
0
20C
50C
100C

Solubility (g/100 g H2O)

KCl(s)

NaNO3(s)

27.6
34.0
42.6
57.6

74
88
114
182

The solubility of most solids (decreases or

increases ) with an increase in the
temperature. LecturePLUS Timberlake
15

21.2 Solubility graphs

Solubility values for three solutes are
plotted in this temperature-solubility
graph.

Each line shows how much stuff (CALLED SOLUTE) can be dissolved in 100
mL OF WATER (CALLED SOLVENT) at a bunch of different temperatures.

How to get these curves?

Think of an experiment to determine the solubility

curves of these salts.

Temperature and Solubility of

Solids
Temperature
0
20C
50C
100C

Solubility (g/100 g H2O)

KCl(s)

NaNO3(s)

27.6
34.0
42.6
57.6

74
88
114
182

The solubility of most solids increases with

an increase in the temperature.
LecturePLUS Timberlake

18

Temperature and Solubility of

Gases
Temperature
0C
20C
50C

Solubility (g/100 g H2O)

CO2(g)

O2(g)

0.34
0.17
0.076

0.0070
0.0043
0.0026

The solubility of gases decreases with an

increase in temperature.
LecturePLUS Timberlake

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21.2 Solubility
For something to dissolve in water,
the water molecules need to break
the bonds between the solute
molecules.
Water dissolves each substance
differently because the chemical
bond strengths between atoms found
in different solutes are not the same.

21.2 Equilibrium
When a solute like sugar is mixed with
a solvent like water, two processes are
actually going on continuously.
Molecules of solute dissolve and go into solution.
Molecules of solute come out of solution and
become un-dissolved.

When the rate of dissolving equals the

rate of coming out of solution, we say
equilibrium has been reached.

Learning Check
At 40C, the solubility of KBr is 80 g/100 g H2O.
Identify the following solutions as either
1) saturated or (2) unsaturated. Explain.
A. 60 g KBr added to 100 g of water at 40C.
B. 200 g KBr added to 200 g of water at 40C.
C. 25 g KBr added to 50 g of water at 40C.

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Solution
A. 2

Amount of 60 g KBr/100 g water is less than the

solubility of 80 g KBr/100 g water.

B. 1

In 100 g of water, 100 g KBr exceeds the

solubility of 80 g KBr water at 40C.

C. 2

This is the same as 50 g KBr in 100 g of water,

which is less than the solubility of 80 g KBr/100
g water at 40C.

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Effect of Temperature on Solubility

Solubility
depends on temperature.
of most solid solutes
increases as temperature of
solvent increases.
of gases decreases as
temperature increases.
A saturated solution is formed
on the curve, below the curve
the solution is
undersaturated.
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Effect of Temperature on Solubility

The maximum solubility =
saturation point of sodium
nitrate (NaNO3) at 40 C is
100g.
1. What
What is
is the
the mass
maximum
3.
of the
solubility ofifGlucose
at
precipitate
a saturated
20 C? solution of 100ml
NaNO
3
2. is
How
much
potassium
cooled
from
60 to 0
nitrate (KNO3) can
C?
dissolve in 100 mL of
4. Which saturated solution
water at 40
produces
theC?
most
precipitate if cooled from 40
to 20 C?

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Solubility curve
Any solution can be made saturated,
unsaturated, or supersaturated by
changing the temperature.

Any mass of solute

ABOVE the
saturation/solubility
curve would
OVERSATURATE
the solution
Any mass of solute
BELOW the curve
would UNDERSATURATE
the solution

UNDISSOLVED SOLUTE AT
BOTTOM, or PRECIPITATE
forms as
the solution
cools

More solute can

be dissolved to make
the solution
saturated

Learning Check
A. Why could a bottle of carbonated drink possibly
burst (explode) when it is left out in the hot sun ?
B. Why do fish die in water that is too warm?

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Solution
A. The pressure in a bottle increases as the gas
leaves solution as it becomes less soluble at high
temperatures. As pressure increases, the bottle
could burst.
B. Because O2 gas is less soluble in warm water, fish
cannot obtain the amount of O2 required for their
survival.

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Solubility and Pressure

Henrys Law states
the solubility of a gas
in a liquid is directly
related to the
pressure of that gas
above the liquid.
at higher pressures,
more gas molecules
dissolve in the liquid.

Boiled water tastes bland because dissolved gases like oxygen and
carbon dioxide have escaped from it.

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Learning check

An increase in temperature increases the solubility of a

solid solute
A saturated solution becomes unsaturated on heating to
dissolve more of the solute
On cooling this solution it becomes saturated because
solubility decreases on cooling.
However, when the solute is a gas, the solubility
decreases as the temperature rises.

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Solubility Curve Worksheet

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Revision of Molar Volume

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Revision of Molar Volume

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Revision of Molar Volume

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