Solubility of solids
If a substance is solubleAble to dissolve in solvent. For example, sugar is soluble in water because it dissolves to form sugar solution. it will dissolve in a given amount of liquid, called the 鈥solventThe liquid in which the solute dissolves to form a solution.鈥.
When no more solute can be dissolved in a solvent the solution is said to be saturated.
Each different substance has a different solubility. This table shows the solubility of substances in water at 20掳C. Solubility is shown as the grams of a solute per 100 g of water.
| Solute | Solubility |
| Sodium chloride | 35.9 |
| Copper(II) sulfate | 32 |
| Sodium hydrogencarbonate | 10 |
| Lead(II) iodide | 0.07 |
| Lead(II) nitrate | 54 |
| Solute | Sodium chloride |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 35.9 |
| Solute | Copper(II) sulfate |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 32 |
| Solute | Sodium hydrogencarbonate |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 10 |
| Solute | Lead(II) iodide |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 0.07 |
| Solute | Lead(II) nitrate |
|---|---|
| Solubility | 54 |
Determining solubility
To work out the solubility of a solid in water the following procedure is used.
- Measure accurately 100 cm3 of water and add to a beaker
- Add small amounts of the solute until no more can dissolve
- Record the mass of an evaporating dish
- Filter the mixture so the undissolved solid is left behind and the solution is in the evaporating dish
- Remove the water by heating or evaporation
- Weigh the evaporating dish with the solute in it and calculate the mass of the solute that was dissolved