Title: Solubility

Date: February 15,2021

Aim: To investigate the effect of temperature on the solubility of potassium nitrate

Apparatus: Test tubes, beakers, Bunsen burner, stirring rod, test tube holder, tripod stand,
thermometer

Materials: Potassium nitrate, distilled water, tap water

Method/Procedure:

1. Use measuring cylinder to add 10cm3 (this volume V1) of distilled water to a test tube.

2. Add 15g of potassium nitrate crystals to water and heat in water bath. Gently stir the contents of the
test tube with a stirring rod until the crystals dissolve.

3. Cool the solution in a beaker with water until the crystals begin to from, recording the temperature as
the crystals just begin to form (this is T1).

4. Add 2cm3 of water to the above mixture. Heat again, while stirring to dissolve the crystals. Cool the
resulting solution until crystallizations begins. (the new temperature and volumes are T2 and V2
respectively) temperature T3, T4, T5 etc. Continue until the corresponding total volume of the solution
in 24 cm3.

5. Use the following relationship to determine the solubility at each temperature:

Solubility in grams of solute per 100g of water

= 15 x 100/Vs where Vs is the volume of solvent

Results:

Complete a table for solubility of KNO3 at the corresponding temperatures. Show all calculations.

Temperature Volume Grams

T1= 70 V1=10 150g
T2= 60 V2= 12 125g
T3= 51 V3= 14 107g
T4= 40 V4= 16 94g
T5= 35 V5= 18 83g
T6= 34 V6= 20 75g
T7= 32 V7= 22 68g
T8=30 V8= 24 63g

Data analysis: calculation of the solubility: T1= 15 x 100/10= 150g

Treatment of Results:
1. Plot a graph of solubility versus temperature.

2. Use your graph to

● Predict the solubility of potassium nitrate at 55 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

The solubility of potassium nitrate at 55 degrees Celsius is 62g and 114g at 28 degrees Celsius.

● Determine the mass of crystals which would precipitate out if the temperature decreased from
60 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.

The mass of crystals that would precipitate out would be 31g.

Conclusion: The more heat added to Potassium Nitrate the more the more soluble Potassium Nitrate
becomes.