EXPLORE, Part 1
Handout
Name ___________________________________
Date ____________________________________
Solubility Lab
Purpose: To investigate the solubility of a substance in water, cooking oil, and alcohol.
Background Information: Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve (become
trapped in) another substance. Solubility is based on polarity (the distribution of charge
in a compound). Polar compounds will dissolve other polar compounds as well as ionic
compounds. Nonpolar compounds will dissolve other nonpolar compounds. Hence, the
rule is “like dissolves like.”
A solution is formed when one substance dissolves in another substance.
The substance that “dissolved” is called the solute.
The substance that is “doing the dissolving” is called the solvent.
In this lab, you will investigate the solubility of substances in water—a polar compound.
Materials:
well plates
toothpicks
scoops/spoons
water
cooking oil
rubbing alcohol
sugar
salt
flour
baby powder
cornstarch
Problem # 1: Which substances will dissolve in water?
(Sugar, salt, baby powder, flour, cornstarch)
Hypothesis: I think _____________________________________will dissolve in water.
Procedure:
1. Fill 5 wells half full with water.
2. Add a few grains of substance in each of the 5 wells. Make sure that you start
with the sugar, salt etc.
3. Mix well. Use a different toothpick for each of the substances.
4. Record observations in data table.
Problem # 2: Which substances will dissolve in cooking oil?
(Sugar, salt, baby powder, flour, cornstarch)
Hypothesis: I think _________________________________will dissolve in cooking oil.
Procedure:
1. Fill 5 wells half full with cooking oil.
2. Add a few grains of substance in each of the 5 wells. Make sure that you start
with the sugar, salt etc.
3. Mix well. Use a different toothpick for each of the substances.
4. Record observations in data table
Problem # 3: Which substances will dissolve in rubbing alcohol?
(Sugar, salt, baby powder, flour, cornstarch)
Hypothesis: I think ______________________________will dissolve in rubbing
alcohol.
Procedure:
1. Fill 5 wells half full with rubbing alcohol.
2. Add a few grains of substance in each of the 5 wells. Make sure that you
start with the sugar, salt etc.
3. Mix well. Use a different toothpick for each of the substances.
4. Record observations in data table
Analysis:
1. Which compounds/substances were soluble in water?
2. Which compounds/substances were insoluble in water?
3. Does the amount of the substance affect the solubility (you may want to test this
using one or two of the substances)? Justify your answer using evidence from
testing one or more substances
4. Based on the information in this lab, why can oil be skimmed off of water after an
oil spill?
5. What type of compound would be suitable to make a product to clean up oil
spills?
Conclusion:
Write a conclusion paragraph which explains the results.
Table # 1:
Substance:
Substances with Water
Soluble
Observations:
Insoluble
Polar/
Ionic
Nonpolar
Substances with Cooking Oil
Soluble
Observations:
Insoluble
Polar/
Ionic
Nonpolar
Polar/
Ionic
Nonpolar
Sugar
Salt
Sugar
Baby Powder
Flour
Cornstarch
Table # 2:
Substance:
Sugar
Salt
Sugar
Baby Powder
Flour
Cornstarch
Table # 3:
Substance:
Sugar
Salt
Sugar
Baby Powder
Flour
Cornstarch
Substances with Rubbing Alcohol
Soluble
Insoluble
Observations: