EXERCISE 1

Solubility as Physical Property

Glister Diadem A. Dollera – 201808525

Chem 31.1—Section EF

BS Biology 1

ABSTRACT

Solubility be is the ability of the substance to dissolve in a particular solvent and to create a
solution. Different substance vary their solubility depending on their chemical and molecular
structure. In this experiment, the dissolution and the solubility of different compounds were
examined under different conditions, namely temperature, polarity, and pH. Results shows that
the dissolution process of solvent involves homogenous mixing of the solute and solvent.
Furthermore, it has been observed that “like dissolves like”. Polar substance dissolves polar
substance while non-polar substance dissolves non-polar substance. Furthermore,
temperature, in the experiment, had increased the solubility of the mixture. Increasing pH also
increases the solubility of polar substance but does not affect non polar substance. Salting out
decreases solubility since it increases the salt in the mixture. It is important to know the
solubility of different compound.
Introduction

The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called
properties. A physical property is a characteristic of matter that is not associated with a
change in its chemical composition. Familiar examples of physical properties include density,
color, hardness, solubility, melting and boiling points, and electrical conductivity. This
exercise focuses on the solubility as a physical property.
Solubility is the ability of the substance to dissolve in a particular solvent and to
create a solution. Solution is a clear homogenous mixture of two or more substances. It is
usually observed in liquids. The solution is said to be homogenous when there is no thick
cloud appearance and it is totally uniform in appearance.
There are several factors that govern solubility. And these are the polarity and
molecular size. When one substance dissolves another, particles of solute must be distributed
on the solvent, solute particles in the mixture occupy positions that are normally taken by
solvent molecules. The ability of solute particle to replace solvent particles depends on the
attraction of solvent particles from each other, solute particles for each other, and solute-
solvent attraction.
Water is known as the universal solvent. It dissolves most polar molecules. When the
molecules are known as hydrophilic or water-loving, and it involves oxygen and nitrogen
atoms, it can form hydrogen bond with water. On physical sense, it will dissolve on water. In
this exercise, the solubility of different substances was examined. However, its exact value
was not measured.

Results

Table 1.1. Preliminary observation on the dissolution process

Reagents/ Action Taken Observations
KMnO4 Crystals Black, Coarsely grounded
KMnO4 Crystals + 50ml water Color changed fast. It turned into a magenta
too deep purple color.
Mixture after shaking The color become evenly distributed.
Crystals dissolve in water
Table 1.2. Description of Organic Compounds
Reagents/ Action Taken Observations
Petroleum Ether Clear, colorless, somewhat sweet smelling
Acetic Acid Colorless Liquid with strong, corrosive
pungent odor
Benzoic Acid Coarsely grounded white powder
Sodium Benzoate Coarsely grounded white powder
Cyclohexanol NONE
Dextrose Coarsely grounded brownish-white powder
with fruity odor
Cellulose Finely grounded white powder with burnt
smell

Table 1.3. Solubility at Room Temperature

Sample In Petroleum Ether In Water

Mixture Solution (+/-) Mixture Solution (+/-)

Description Description

Acetic Acid Turbid + Clear and +

yellowish in
colour.
Benzoic Acid Clear solution, - Benzoic acid -
however, still apparent.
presents layers
and bubbles
Sodium Turbid solution - Clear solution +
Benzoate and presents and completely
layers dissolved.
Cyclohexanol N/A N/A N/A N/A

Dextrose No trace of - Some of the +/-

dissolution dextrose was not
dissolved.
Cellulose Heterogenous in - Heterogenous in -
appearance. No appearance. No
trace of trace of
dissolution. dissolution.
Table 1.4. Effect of pH in the solubility
Sample In Water In 10% HCl In 10% NaOH In 10% NaHCO3
(Before) Description +/- Description +/- Description +/- Description +/-
Aniline (Dark It suspend on - The particles - Does not - Formed -
Liquid) the top while sink at the dissolve bubbles; the
small portion bottom chemicals
is at the sunk
bottom
Diethyl amine Colorless + Dissolved + Dissolved Mixed with +
(colorless) white layer + water
formed at the
top
Naphthalene Pellets - The crystals - Insoluble - Some -
(Pellets) suspend at the floated in the crystals
bottom water floated and
sunk
Toluene Bubble -/+ Mixed in + Dis not - Produce -
(Colorless) formed at the water dissolve bubbles
top
Benzoic Acid White pearl -/+ The crystals + Dissolved + Insoluble -
settle at the sunk at the
bottom bottom
Phenol Colorless +/- The yellow +/- Dissolved + The yellow +
color color
disappeared disappeared
after adding
water

Table 1.5 Salting out and its effect on solubility

10 chops 1-butanol 4 ml
H2O
Slightly cloudy colorless
particle s slightly suspended
1Butanol-water solution
treated with sodium chloride
Freshly shaken
Cloudy suspended particles
at the bottom
1Butanol-water solution
treated with sodium chloride
After shaken
Cloudy suspended particles
at the bottom, recede

Table 1.6. Effect of temperature on solution

Action Observations
Freshly Shaken Small pellets seen at the top
Hot mixture The mixture become homogenous colorless
liquid
 Cooled after heating Still colorless liquid. However, formation of
film-like crystals was observed suspended at
the top.

Discussion
A. Preliminary observation on the dissolution process of KMnO4
According to Xe Lu and Bhimji (2018), dissolution is the process where a solute in
gaseous, liquid, or solid phase dissolves in a solvent to form a solution. Permanganate is a
strong oxidizing agent. According to Trimble (1922), the solubility of potassium
permanganate in pure water of 6.0 to 7.0%. Its dissolution process was observed. As
presented in Table 1.4, KMnO4 changed its color when 50ml water was added. It further
dissolved in the solvent after the mixture was shaken. What have been observed on the first
experiment done is the dissolution of permanganate.

B. Solubility in Organic solvents and in Water at Room Temperature

Most organic molecules are typically relatively non-polar and are usually soluble in
organic solvents (e.g. diethyl ether, dichloromethane, chloroform, petroleum ether, hexanes
etc.) but not in polar solvents like water. However, some organic molecules are more polar
and therefore more soluble in water. This denotes a rather high ratio of polar group(s) to the
non-polar hydrocarbon chain, i.e., a low molecular weight compound containing an -OH, -
NH2 or -CO2H group, or a larger molecule containing several polar groups.
For instance, based on the data, Aniline is insoluble in water and other substance.
Aniline is a benzene ring with an amine group -NH2 attached to it. In basic conditions, the
molecule is uncharged and only very slightly polar. Its polarity is so low that interactions
between water and the NH2- group are not sufficient to make the molecule soluble in water

C. Effect of Temperature on Solubility

Results show that when the mixture was heated, the solute was dissolved completely
and it was homogenized. However, when it was cooled down, few thin-crystals or film
floated above the water. This result implies that temperature can increase solubility.
According to Lu and Bhimji (2018), “the solubility of a solid or liquid can increase or
decrease as temperature increases depending on whether the dissolution reaction is
exothermic or endothermic.” In endothermic reactions, increasing temperature increases the
solubility of the solute. This is because the net energy from bonds is breaking and forming
means that heat energy is absorbed when the solute dissolves in solution. Increasing
temperature introduces heat into the system. So according to Le Chatelier’s Principle, the
system will adjust to this increase in the heart by promoting the dissolution reaction to absorb
some of the heat energy.
On the other hand, in exothermic reactions, increasing temperature decreases the
solubility of the solute. This is because heat energy is released when the solute dissolves in
solution. Increasing temperature introduces more heat into the system. So according to Le
Chatelier’s Principle, the system will adjust to this excess in heat energy by inhibiting the
dissolution reaction. An example of a solute that decreases in solubility with increasing
temperature is calcium hydroxide which can be used in medical situations to treat chemical
burns and as an antacid.

D. Effect of pH on Solubility
It was observed in Table 1.4 that chemicals differ their solubility, and that pH affects
it. Among the chemicals, Aniline and Naphthalene were insoluble on all solvents. It is
because, these chemicals are non-polar, thus they wouldnot react to polar molecules such as
water. Because of this, pH would not affect their solubility. The pH of solvent only affect
those molecules that are polar.
Furthermore, according to Chem Faculty (n.d), many weakly soluble ionic
compounds have solubility which depend on the pH of the solution. Earnest (2014) says that
decreasing the pH increases the solubility of sparingly soluble bases and basic salts. And
increasing the pH has the opposite effect. It all involves the application of Le Châtelier's
Principle.
For instant, based on the data presented, phenol is more soluble in NaOH than in
water is because phenol is slightly acidic. The Ka for phenol in water is 1e-10 which is not
very strong. But by mixing with NaOH, it causes the phenol to release the H+ to form sodium
phenoxide. (Han, 2010). Furthermore, organic molecules that are acids are soluble to its
corresponding bases.

E. Salting out and its effects

Salting out is a purification method that utilizes the reduced solubility of certain
molecules in a solution of very high ionic strength. It is typically, but not limited to, the
precipitation of large biomolecules such as proteins. (Chem LibreText, 2018)
On the data observed, salting out produces a cloudy mixture. The mixture did not
appear uniformly. It is a proof that salting-out decreases the solubility of the mixture. As
salting out increases the amount of salt, the bulk the mixture it becomes.

Conclusion

There are several factors that affect solubility. However, this exercise has proven that
“like dissolves like”. Polar molecules dissolves polar molecules while non-polar molecules
only dissolves non-polar molecules. The pH of a solvent affects the solubility of polar
molecules. Furthermore, temperature increases the solubility of the substance. On the other
hand, salting-out decreases the mixture’s solubility.
References:
Xe Lu, J and Bhimji, S. (2018). Chemistry, Dissolution, and Solubility. Retrieved from:
https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431100/
Chem Libre-Text. (2018). Salting-Out. Retrieved from:https://chem.libretexts.org/
Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_
Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Thermodynamics/Real_(Non-
Ideal)_Systems/Salting_Out
Earnest, Z. (2014). How pH affect solunility. Retrieved from: https://socratic.org/questions
/how-does-ph-affect-solubility
Han, S. (2010). Phenol solubility. Retrieved from: https://www.scribd.com/doc/42361
211/Phenol