Solubility / Solutions

Definitions:
 Solution: homogeneous mixture
 Solute: the component that is dissolved in solvent--usually in smaller amount
 Solvent: medium (often water) into which solutes are mixed--usually in greater amount
 Concentration: describes how much solute there is--
 Dilute: small amount of solute—
 Concentrated: large amount of solute—
 Saturated: contains as much solute as can be dissolved—
 Unsaturated: can dissolve more solute—
 Supersaturated: more than saturated, unstable—
Definitions: Solubility
1. IUPAC defines solubility as the analytical composition of a saturated solution
expressed as a proportion of a designated solute in a designated solvent.
2. Solubility in a qualitative term may be defined as the spontaneous interaction may
be defined as the spontaneous interaction of two or more substances to from a
homogeneous molecular dispersion
3. In quantitative term, solubility may be defined in following ways:
“Grams of solute that will dissolve in 100 grams of solvent to make saturated solution
at a stated temperature”.
Or
“Grams of solute that will dissolve in 100 ml of solvent to make saturated solution at a
stated temperature”.
4. According to B.P. (British Pharmacopoeia);
“No. of parts of solvent required to dissolve one part of solute at a stated temperature”.

5. According to U.S.P. (United State Pharmacopoeia);

“The number of milliliters of solvent in which one gram of solute will dissolve”.

Here, the term ‘one part’ represents 1gm or 1ml.

 Solution
Solutions are homogeneous mixtures of two or more pure
substances.
➢ In a solution, the solute is dispersed uniformly throughout the
solvent.
➢ A homogenous mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent.
➢ The solubility (ability to dissolve) of a solute in a solvent is
dependent on the
a. Temperature
For solid solutes
➢ as temperature increases, solubility increases.
For gas solutes
➢ as temperature increases, solubility decreases.
b. Pressure
For solid solutes
➢ as pressure increases, solubility remains the same.

For gas solutes:

➢ as pressure increases, solubility increases
c. Nature of Solute/Solvent
➢ “Like dissolves in like.”
Solubility Curves:
•Solubility curves are the curves drawn between the
solubility and temperature. It shows the effect of
temperature on the solubility of substances. The
solubility curves of substances like calcium acetate and
calcium chromate shows decrease in solubility, while
those of sodium nitrate, lead nitrate shows a
considerable increase of solubility with increase in
temperature.
 Types of Solution
1. An unsaturated solution is a solution in which more solute can
be dissolved at a given temperature.
2. A saturated solution is a solution containing the maximum
amount of solute that will dissolve at a given temperature.
3. A supersaturated solution is a solution that contains more solute
than would dissolve in a saturated solution at a given
temperature.
UNSATURATED SOLUTION SATURATED SOLUTION SUPERSATURATED SOLUTION
more solute dissolves no more solute dissolves becomes unstable, crystals form

increasing concentration
 Types of Solution
➢ Saturated
➢ Solvent holds as much solute as is possible at that
temperature.
➢ Dissolved solute is in dynamic equilibrium with
solid solute particles.
➢ Unsaturated Saturated
➢ Less than the maximum amount of solute for that temperature is
dissolved in the solvent.

➢ Supersaturated
➢ Solvent holds more solute than is normally possible at that
temperature.
➢ These solutions are unstable; crystallization can usually be stimulated
by adding a “seed crystal” or scratching the side of the flask.
 Solubility Rules
1. Not all ionic compounds are water soluble.
2. There are some general rules for compounds that are water
soluble:
➢ Group 1 ionic compounds and ammonium (NH4+) are
always water soluble
➢ Group 17 ionic compounds are water soluble except when
paired with Ag, Pb, and Hg ions

1. A salt is soluble in water if it contains any one of the following

ions:
NH4+ Li+ Na+ K+ or NO3-

Examples: Soluble salts

LiCl Na2SO4 KBr Ca(NO3)2
 Solubility Rules
2. Salts with Cl- are soluble, but not if the positive ion is :
Ag+, Pb2+, or Hg22+
Examples:
Soluble Insoluble
MgCl2 AgCl , PbCl2

3. Salts with SO42- are soluble , but not, if the positive

ions are Ba2+, Pb2+, Hg22+, Ca2+
Example:
Soluble Not soluble
MgSO4 BaSO4 PbSO4
 Concentration
Concentration of a solution can be expressed either quantitatively or
qualitatively (dilute or concentrated).
❖ Methods of Expressing Concentrations of Solutions
Mass Percentage
➢ Mass percentage is expressed using the equation:
Mass % of component =
Mass of component insolution
Total mass of solution X 100
Parts per Million (ppm)
mass of A in solution 106
ppm = total mass of solution

Parts per Billion (ppb)

mass of A in solution 109
ppb = total mass of solution
Mole Fraction
➢ This is how many moles of substance are in the solution.
Moles of component
Mole fraction of component = Total moles of all components

Molarity
➢ Relates the volume of solution to the quantity of solute that it
contains.
Moles solute
Molarity = Liters solution

Molality(m)
mol of solute
m= kg of solvent
Because both moles and mass do not change with temperature,
molality (unlike molarity) is not temperature dependent.
Changing Molarity to Molality

If we know the density of the

solution, we can calculate the
molality from the molarity,
and vice versa.