Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ Period: _________________
Universal Solvent Inquiry Lab
Purpose: If eight different materials are stirred into water, which of them will dissolve?
Hypothesis: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Materials:
 Kool Aid Mix
 Oil
 Honey
 Bullion Cube
 Vinegar
 Soap Flakes
Procedure:
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Sand
Flour
250 mL beaker
Water
Stirring Rod
1. Go to the assigned station.
2. Obtain an empty 250 mL beaker and put 100 mL of water in it.
3. Fill out the prediction column in the data table for the substance at that station.
4. Sprinkle (or pour) a small, quarter-sized amount of the first material into the beaker of water.
5. Stir for 1-2 minutes.
6. Write down the results on the data table in the “Did It Dissolve?” Column.
7. Dump your solution down the drain, rinse out the beaker, and put the materials back the way you
found them.
8. Move to the next station and repeat steps 2-7.
Data:
Substance
Kool Aid
Oil
Honey
Bullion Cube
Vinegar
Soap Flakes
Sand
Flour
Prediction: Will It Dissolve?
Did It Dissolve?
(Yes/No)
(Yes/No)
Polar or Nonpolar?
Discussion Questions:
1. Is water polar or nonpolar? _________________________________________________________________________________
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2. What is a solvent? ___________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. What is a solute? _____________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What is a solution? ___________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. Did all the substances dissolve in water? Why or why not? ______________________________________________
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6. Which substances did not dissolve in water? Explain why they did not dissolve. ______________________
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7. In this lab, what is the solvent? _____________________________________________________________________________
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8. Explain why water is considered the universal solvent. Be specific. _____________________________________
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9. Which substances are considered solutes? ________________________________________________________________
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