Lab: Polar and Nonpolar Solvents
Introduction
In this activity you will investigate the solubility of six solutes in two different solvents -- water
(H2O), a polar solvent; and turpentine, a nonpolar solvent.
Procedure (Please use your own paper for this lab. Do not write on this lab sheet.)
1. What is the purpose of this lab? Write a one sentence purpose on your paper.
2. Copy the data table on your own piece of paper.
Result (observations)
Solute
Prediction:
Water
(polar, ionic,
(polar solvent)
nonpolar)
Turpentine
(nonpolar
solvent)
Is the solute
polar
or nonpolar?
A. Table Salt
B. Candle Wax
C. Rubbing Alcohol
D. Baking Soda (NaHCO3)
E. KCl
F. Oil
3. Place 2 squirts of water in each of 6 test tubes in the holder.
4. Label each test tube #1-6.
5. In test tube 1, add a small scoop of table salt, solute A. Judge the extent to which the
solute dissolved in water, the polar solvent.
6. Record your observations in the data table and use the following key to identify
solubility: S = soluble; SS = slightly soluble; IN = insoluble.
7. In test tube 2, add solute B-candle wax. In test tube 3, add solute C; etc. until you have
tested all solutes in water. Repeat step 6 for each trial.
8. Using the second set of 6 clean test tubes, place 2 squirts of turpentine in each. Repeat
steps 4-7 using turpentine as your solvent.
9. Discard the contents of all test tubes down the drain. Clean each test tube and dry the
inside with paper towels. They should be perfect. Make sure your lab station is clean!!
Conclusion Questions (Answer on your own paper)
1. Do polar solutes dissolve in polar solvents?
2. Do nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents?
3. Do polar solvents dissolve nonpolar liquids?
4. Which solutes were more soluble in water than turpentine?
5. Which solutes were more soluble in turpentine than water?
6. Did any solutes produce unexpected results? If so, describe these results. Can you suggest
reasons for this behavior?
7. Explain the phrase, "Like dissolves like."
Teacher Info
Teacher Guide: Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
Polar substances tend to be soluble in polar liquids.
Nonpolar substances tend to be soluble in nonpolar liquids.
Polar substances do not tend to dissolve in nonpolar liquids.
Ammonium chloride, copper sulfate, sodium chloride, urea, and ethanol were more
soluble in water than in vegetable oil.
5. Iodine was more soluble in vegetable oil than water, but the results were not clear cut.
6. Naphthalene did not dissolve well in either water or vegetable oil.
7. The phrase that "like dissolves like" means that polar substance tend to form solution
with one another, and that nonpolar substances tend to form solutions with one another..
Polar and nonpolar substance do not tend to form solutions with one another, however.
TG Lab Hints
Use very small crystals of solid. The naphthalene does not dissolve well in vegetable oil.
TG Materials
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The following solvents stored in pipet storage devices:
o water
o vegetable oil or mineral oil
The following solutes stored in microcentrifuge tubes:
o urea crystals
o Iodine crystals
o sodium chloride (NaCl)
o Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)
o Naphthalene (C10H8)
o Copper (II) sulfate (Cu SO4•5H2O)
The following solute stored in a pipet device:
o Ethanol (C2H5OH)
2 12-well strips
wood splints
tooth picks
cotton swabs
TG Reference
The original version of this lesson was developed by:
Terry Wortman
Hayes Center High School
Hayes Center, NE