Solubility of a Solid in a Liquid

  • Definition of solubility
  • Factors influencing solubility
    • Nature of solute and solvent
    • Temperature
    • Pressure (in case of gaseous solutes)
  • Solubility curves
  • Solubility product constant
  • Examples:
    • Solubility of salt in water
    • Solubility of CO2 in water
    • Solubility of oxygen in water
  • Solubility rules
  • Equations for solubility reactions
  • Calculating molarity and molality from solubility

Definition of Solubility

  • Solubility refers to the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in a particular solvent.
  • It is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a specific amount of solvent at a given temperature and pressure. Examples:
  • Salt dissolving in water
  • Sugar dissolving in tea

Factors Influencing Solubility

Nature of Solute and Solvent

  • Like dissolves like:
    • Polar solvents dissolve polar solutes
    • Nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes

Temperature

  • Generally, solubility increases with an increase in temperature for solid solutes in liquid solvents.
  • However, there are exceptions, such as the solubility of calcium hydroxide in water decreases with the increase in temperature.

Pressure (for Gaseous solutes)

  • For gaseous solutes, solubility increases with pressure.
  • This is explained by Henry’s Law: the solubility of a gas is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas.

Solubility Curves

  • Solubility curves represent the variation of solubility (in grams of solute per 100g of solvent) with temperature.
  • They are useful in determining the solubility of a substance at a particular temperature.
  • Solubility curves are specific to a particular solute-solvent pair. Example:
  • A solubility curve for potassium nitrate (KNO3) in water. [Paste the image/graph of solubility curve here]

Solubility Product Constant

  • Solubility product constant (Ksp) is a measure of the extent to which a sparingly soluble solid dissolves in water.
  • It is the equilibrium constant for the dissolution reaction.
  • For the reaction:
    • AxBy(s) ⇌ xA^(y+)(aq) + yB^(x-)(aq)
    • The expression for Ksp is: Ksp = [A^(y+)]^x * [B^(x-)]^y Example:
  • Determining the solubility product constant for silver chloride (AgCl). [Include the balanced chemical equation for the dissolution of AgCl and the expression for Ksp]

Examples: Solubility of Salt in Water

  • Sodium chloride (NaCl):
    • Highly soluble in water. Solubility: 360g/100g H2O at 25°C.
    • Equation: NaCl(s) ⇌ Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
  • Potassium nitrate (KNO3):
    • Moderately soluble in water. Solubility: 31.2g/100g H2O at 20°C.
    • Equation: KNO3(s) ⇌ K+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
  • Calcium carbonate (CaCO3):
    • Low solubility in water. Solubility: 0.013g/100g H2O at 25°C.
    • Equation: CaCO3(s) ⇌ Ca^(2+)(aq) + CO3^(2-)(aq) [Include the equations for other examples]

Examples: Solubility of CO2 in Water

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2):
    • Solubility in water is influenced by temperature and pressure.
    • For example, at 25°C and 1 atm pressure, the solubility of CO2 is about 0.033g/100g H2O.
    • Equation: CO2(g) ⇌ CO2(aq)
  • Carbonated beverages, such as soda, contain dissolved CO2 gas. [Include the equation for the dissolution of CO2 in water]

Examples: Solubility of Oxygen in Water

  • Oxygen (O2):
    • Solubility in water is influenced by temperature and pressure.
    • At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the solubility of O2 is about 0.020g/100g H2O.
    • Equation: O2(g) ⇌ O2(aq)
  • Aquatic organisms rely on the dissolved oxygen in water for respiration. [Include the equation for the dissolution of O2 in water]

Solubility Rules

  • Solubility rules help predict whether a compound is soluble or insoluble in water.
  • For example, most salts containing alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+) and ammonium ions (NH4+) are soluble in water.
  • General solubility guidelines:
    • Most nitrate (NO3-) salts are soluble.
    • Most chloride (Cl-), bromide (Br-), and iodide (I-) salts are soluble, except those of silver (Ag+), lead (Pb2+), and mercury (Hg22+).
    • Most sulfate (SO4^2-) salts are soluble, except those of calcium (Ca2+), strontium (Sr2+), barium (Ba2+), and lead (Pb2+).
    • Most hydroxide (OH-) salts are slightly soluble, except those of alkali metals (LiOH, NaOH, KOH, etc.) and barium (Ba(OH)2).
    • Most carbonate (CO3^2-) and phosphate (PO4^3-) salts are insoluble, except those of alkali metals (Li2CO3, Na3PO4, etc.) and ammonium (NH4) salts. [Include additional solubility rules]

Equations for Solubility Reactions

  • When a compound dissolves in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions.
  • The balanced chemical equation for the dissolution reaction can be written by separating the individual ions.
  • Example: Dissolution of potassium nitrate (KNO3) in water:
    • KNO3(s) ⇌ K+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
  • Similarly, other soluble compounds can be represented in a similar manner. [Include equations for the dissolution of other examples]
  1. Solubility of Gases in Liquids:
  • Gases can also dissolve in liquids, and their solubility is influenced by temperature, pressure, and the nature of the gas and solvent.
  • Henry’s Law states that the solubility of a gas is directly proportional to its partial pressure above the liquid.
  • Example: The solubility of oxygen in water can be represented by the equation: O2(g) ⇌ O2(aq)
  1. Factors Affecting the Solubility of Gases:
  • Temperature: Generally, the solubility of gases decreases with an increase in temperature.
  • Pressure: The solubility of gases increases with an increase in pressure.
  • Henry’s Law constant (Kh): The proportionality constant in Henry’s Law equation depends on the nature of the gas and solvent.
  1. Solubility of Gases Example:
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2):
    • Highly soluble in water due to its polarity.
    • Used in carbonated beverages to produce the fizzy effect.
    • Can also dissolve in water to form carbonic acid, which contributes to the acidity of rainwater.
  1. Calculation of Molarity from Solubility:
  • Molarity (M) is the amount of solute (in moles) dissolved per liter of solution.
  • To calculate molarity from solubility (in grams per liter), we need to know the molar mass of the solute.
  • Example: Calculate the molarity of a solution if it contains 20g of NaCl dissolved in 500mL of water.
  1. Calculation of Molality from Solubility:
  • Molality (m) is the amount of solute (in moles) dissolved per kilogram of solvent.
  • To calculate molality from solubility (in grams per 100 grams of solvent), we need to convert grams to moles and kilograms.
  • Example: Calculate the molality of a solution if it contains 30g of glucose (C6H12O6) dissolved in 200g of water.
  1. Solubility and Precipitation:
  • When a solution becomes saturated and can no longer dissolve additional solute, any excess solute will form a solid precipitate.
  • The solubility product constant (Ksp) is used to determine whether or not a precipitate will form.
  • Example: Determine whether a precipitate will form when 100mL of a 0.1M BaCl2 solution is mixed with 100mL of a 0.1M Na2SO4 solution.
  1. Common Ion Effect:
  • The presence of a common ion in a solution can decrease the solubility of a slightly soluble salt.
  • This effect is due to Le Chatelier’s principle: the equilibrium shifts to the left to reduce the concentration of the common ion.
  • Example: Calculate the solubility of silver chloride (AgCl) in a solution containing 0.1M NaCl.
  1. Temperature Dependence of Solubility:
  • The solubility of most solid solutes increases with an increase in temperature, while the solubility of gases generally decreases.
  • However, there are exceptions to these trends depending on the specific solute-solvent system.
  • Example: Graph the solubility curve for potassium nitrate (KNO3) in water from 0°C to 100°C.
  1. Solubility and pH:
  • The pH of a solution can affect the solubility of certain substances, particularly those that contain acidic or basic functional groups.
  • As pH changes, the solubility of different compounds can be impacted.
  • Example: The solubility of Fe(OH)3 is low in neutral or acidic solutions but increases in basic solutions due to the formation of soluble hydroxide ions.
  1. Applications and Importance of Solubility:
  • Solubility is relevant in various aspects of everyday life and scientific fields, including:
    • Pharmaceutical industry: Solubility influences drug absorption and formulation.
    • Environmental science: Solubility affects the behavior and transport of pollutants in water systems.
    • Material and chemical synthesis: Solubility plays a role in producing desired compounds and crystals.
    • Biological processes: Solubility determines the availability of nutrients and waste removal in living systems.
  1. Problems with Solution - Solubility of a Solid in a Liquid
  • Problem 1: What is the solubility of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in water at 25°C? (Ksp = 5.5 x 10^-6)
    • Solution: Using the solubility product constant (Ksp) equation, we can solve for x, which represents the solubility of Ca(OH)2. Ca(OH)2 ⇌ Ca^(2+)(aq) + 2OH^-(aq) Ksp = [Ca^(2+)] * [OH^(-)]^2 = (x)(2x)^2 Solve for x using the given Ksp value.
  • Problem 2: A solution contains 0.5 moles of sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolved in 500mL of water. Calculate the molality of the solution.
    • Solution: Molality (m) is calculated by dividing the moles of solute by the mass of the solvent in kilograms. Convert the volume from milliliters to liters, calculate the mass of water using its density, and use the given moles of NaCl to determine the molality.
  • Problem 3: What is the molarity of a solution if it contains 25 grams of ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) dissolved in 500 mL of water?
    • Solution: Molarity (M) is calculated by dividing the moles of solute by the volume of the solution in liters. Convert the mass of ethylene glycol to moles, convert the volume from milliliters to liters, and use these values to determine the molarity.
  • Problem 4: Predict whether a precipitate will form when 100 mL of a 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution is mixed with 100 mL of a 0.1 M sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solution.
    • Solution: Use the solubility product constant (Ksp) of calcium sulfate (CaSO4) to determine if a precipitate will form. Write the balanced equation and expression for Ksp, calculate the product of [Ca^(2+)] and [SO4^2-], and compare it to the Ksp value.
  • Problem 5: A 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution is mixed with a 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Calculate the pH of the resulting solution.
    • Solution: Calculate the concentration of the resulting H^+ and OH^- ions by using the stoichiometry of the neutralization reaction. Since the same concentration of H^+ and OH^- ions are present, the resulting solution will be neutral with pH 7.
  1. Problems with Solution - Solubility of Gases in Liquids
  • Problem 1: What is the Henry’s Law constant (Kh) for oxygen (O2) in water at a temperature of 25°C? The solubility of O2 at 1 atm pressure is 1.3 x 10^-3 M.
    • Solution: Use Henry’s Law equation and rearrange it to solve for the Henry’s Law constant (Kh). Kh = C(partial pressure of O2) / C(O2 in solution) Substitute the given values to find the Kh constant.
  • Problem 2: Calculate the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a solution if its concentration is 0.05 M and the Henry’s Law constant (Kh) is 2.7 x 10^-2 M/atm.
    • Solution: Rearrange Henry’s Law equation to solve for the partial pressure of CO2. CO2(g) ⇌ CO2(aq) Kh = C(partial pressure of CO2) / C(CO2 in solution) Substitute the given molarity to find the partial pressure.
  • Problem 3: What is the solubility of nitrogen (N2) in water at a temperature of 25°C and a partial pressure of 2 atm?
    • Solution: Use Henry’s Law equation and rearrange it to solve for the solubility of nitrogen (N2) in water. N2(g) ⇌ N2(aq) Kh = C(partial pressure of N2) / C(N2 in solution) Substitute the given partial pressure to find the solubility.
  • Problem 4: A solution contains 3.5 x 10^-3 M of carbon dioxide (CO2) at a temperature of 30°C. Calculate the partial pressure of CO2 in the solution.
    • Solution: Rearrange Henry’s Law equation to solve for the partial pressure of CO2. CO2(g) ⇌ CO2(aq) Kh = C(partial pressure of CO2) / C(CO2 in solution) Substitute the given molarity to find the partial pressure.
  • Problem 5: Determine the concentration of oxygen (O2) in a solution if its partial pressure is 0.5 atm and the Henry’s Law constant (Kh) is 1.8 x 10^-3 M/atm.
    • Solution: Use Henry’s Law equation and rearrange it to solve for the concentration of O2 in the solution. O2(g) ⇌ O2(aq) Kh = C(partial pressure of O2) / C(O2 in solution) Substitute the given partial pressure to find the concentration.
  1. Examples of Solubility Equations
  • Sodium chloride (NaCl):
    • NaCl(s) ⇌ Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
  • Potassium nitrate (KNO3):
    • KNO3(s) ⇌ K+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
  • Calcium carbonate (CaCO3):
    • CaCO3(s) ⇌ Ca^(2+)(aq) + CO3^(2-)(aq)
  • Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2):
    • Mg(OH)2(s) ⇌ Mg^(2+)(aq) + 2OH^-(aq)
  • Silver chloride (AgCl):
    • AgCl(s) ⇌ Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
  1. Calculating Solubility from Ksp
  • The solubility of a sparingly soluble compound can be calculated from the solubility product constant (Ksp) equation.
  • For example, given the Ksp value for silver iodide (AgI) as 8.3 x 10^-17, we can calculate its solubility in water. AgI(s) ⇌ Ag+(aq) + I-(aq) Ksp = [Ag+(aq)] * [I-(aq)] Given Ksp = 8.3 x 10^-17, we can assume that x represents the solubility of AgI. Substitute the solubility (x) into the Ksp equation and solve for x.
  • The solubility of AgI is found to be 9.1 x 10^-9 M.
  1. Common Ion Effect on Solubility
  • The common ion effect occurs when the solubility of a compound is reduced due to the presence of a common ion in the solution.
  • It is caused by Le Chatelier’s principle, which predicts that an increase in the concentration of an ion will shift the equilibrium to the left, reducing solubility.
  • For example, consider the solubility of silver chloride (AgCl) in a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl). AgCl(s) ⇌ Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) In the presence of NaCl, the Cl- concentration increases, leading to a decreased solubility of AgCl.
  1. Factors Affecting Solubility of Gases
  • Temperature: Generally, the solubility of gases decreases with an increase in temperature