Solubility

Solubility: the ability of a substance to dissolve into a solvent

Solvent: the substance that does the dissolving, like water or acetone (nail polish remover)

Solute: the substance that dissolves, like sugar or salt

3 Main Factors that Affect Solubility

1. Stirring or mixing the solution (like stirring coffee)
2. Crushing the solute into smaller chunks (like the difference between a sugar cube or powdered sugar in coffee)
3. Heat the solution up (only for solids dissolved into liquid; this is why we make coffee or tea hot)

*****Note that gases dissolve better into liquids at cooler temperatures, this is why we keep soda cold!*******

Solubility curves can tell us how much of a given substance can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature.

To find the amount that can dissolve at a given temperature, start with the temperature of the solution and move up until you reach the curve, then follow the horizontal line to the y-axis. This point on the y-axis is how many grams can dissolve in a given volume. **Note that solubility increase with temperature in this graph.

1) How many grams of KNO₃ can dissolve in 100 g of water at 60*C? answer: 105 g

2) How many grams of CuSO₄ dissolve at 100*C? answer: 180 g