Name___________________________
Lab Station________
Lab Activity: Preparing Saturated Solutions & Measuring Solubility
Objective: You will prepare a saturated solution of two substances and
measure the solubility (concentration of the solute when it is saturated).
Substances: Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) and one other assigned substance
Directions:
Day #1: Prepare Saturated Solution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Measure & record the mass of an empty evaporation dish.
Put 10.0 mL of water in a test tube.
Add 1 scoop of copper sulfate.
Shake the test tube until all of the solid has dissolved. If all is
dissolved, proceed to step # 7.
Add another scoop of copper sulfate, and shake until it has all
dissolved. If all is dissolved, proceed to step # 7.
Continue to add scoops and shake until you have prepared a solution
that is beyond saturated. It is beyond saturated when you can see
solid particles on the bottom. Record the number of scoops in your
lab notebook.
The liquid portion of your solution is saturated. Decant (pour out the
liquid portion) into a graduated solution and record the volume.
Pour the solution into an evaporation dish, label and let sit out for the
night.
Repeat this procedure with the other assigned substance.
Day #2: Measuring and Calculate Solubility.
1. If all the liquid has evaporated, measure the mass of the evaporation
dish and the dry solid.
2. If there is still some liquid left, gently heat the solution until all of the
liquid has evaporated.
3. Calculate the mass of the dry solid and calculate solubility.
Data table #1: Group Data - mass & volume
Substance
Mass empty
evaporation dish
Volume of
Solution
Mass dish & dry
solid
Data table #2: Concentration & Solubility
Substance
Mass
Dissolved
Solid
Volume
Solution
Concentration
(m / v)
Solubility
(m / v) x 100
Measurements & Calculations:
1. Measure the volume of saturated solution in a graduated cylinder.
2. Calculate the mass of the dissolved solid: mass of crucible with dry solid – mass of
empty crucible.
3. Calculate the concentration: divide the mass of the solid dissolved by the volume of
the water boiled away
4. Calculated the solubility. Multiply the concentration of the saturated solution by 100.
In other words, if you had used 100 mL of water, what would be the maximum
amount of this solid you could have dissolved?
Data table #3: Class data comparing solubility
Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
Group #1
Group #2
Group #3
Group #4
Group #5
Sodium Nitrate
(NaNO3)
Glucose (C6H12O6)