Sunday, 28 April 2013

Research/ Investigation idea: Polar vs. non-polar solubility


Why does water dissolve some substances and not others?

Purpose: To monitor different substances solubility in water, and then investigate whether temperature and reactivity (between substances) affect the overall solubility. 

Investigate:

1) Oil (hydrocarbon)

2) Ethanol (Alcohol)

3) Salt (Ionic & Polar)

General Overview:

- Add each of these substances to water to investigate their solubility. Use the same volume of water, and dye the liquids so as to measure the amount of time to mix with the water. Monitor the dissolution rate in increments of 5 seconds (some substances may take longer). If the substance does not mix after one minute, observe where it goes. Repeat these processes again, though stir the liquid instead of leaving it to sit.

                - To measure the volume of the substance in the case that it is not soluble or does not completely dissolve in one minute,

- For the second stage of the experiment, investigate the solubility of the above liquids in water after the liquid has been heated over a constant temperature of 50 degrees. Then in the repeat test heat water to the same temperature instead of the liquid and compare the results.

- Then, for the third stage of the experiment, mix:

1) Oil (hydrocarbon) + Ethanol (Alcohol)

2) Ethanol (Alcohol) + Salt (Ionic & Polar)

3) Salt (Ionic & Polar) + Oil (hydrocarbon)

These are mixed over a heat of 50 degrees before they are added to the water to investigate the effect of temperature and mixing the substances together on the water’s ability to mix with them.

 

How will I accurately measure the volume that doesn't dissolve?

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