Water: The Universal Solvent
Cathy Erickson,
 Newburyport High School, Newburyport, MA 01950
 cerickson@newburyport.k12.ma.us

Paula Flanagan
 Hingham High School, Hingham, MA 02043
 paulaflan@directvinternet.com

Introduction
Students will visualize the critical characteristic of
the water molecule that allows it to be such a good
solvent, namely its polar nature.
 3 Simulabs

 Rate
of Dissolving,
 Structure of Water
 Dissociation of NaCl
Intended Audience
 This
project is designed to supplement Unit 1
Section C of the the ChemCom (Chemistry in the
Community) curriculum
 Any high school Chemistry course
 Physical Science
 Oceanography
 Environmental Science
Adjustment/Adaptation
Enrichments
 Simulab
 Excel
#1:Rate of Dissolving
or other graphing program
 Simulab
#2: Structure of Water
 Hydrogen
Bonding Effects
 Hexagonal arrangement of molecules in ice
 Simulab
#3: Dissociation of NaCl
 Adding
various ions
Placement in Curriculum
 ChemCom Water
 Part
Unit
B:
 Physical
properties of water
 Elements, compounds and mixtures
 Molecular structure (Simulab #2: Structure of the Water
Molecule)
 Part
C:
 Solubility
and solubility curves (Simulab #1: Rate of
Dissolving)
 Ions and ionic compounds (Simulab #3:Ionization of NaCl)
Time for 3 Simulabs
One 90 minute or two 45 minute
classes
Resources & Equipment
4th ed. (2002)W.H. Freeman, N.Y.
 2-3 students per computer
 Multimedia Projector or T.V. with computer
interface
 ChemCom Text
Goals and Objectives
From the Mass. Science and Technology/Engineering
Curriculum Framework:
 Solutions:
 7.1 Describe the process by which solutes dissolve in
solvents.
 7.2 Identify and explain temperature as a factor that
affects the rate of dissolving
 From ChemCom:


Use the polarity of water molecules to explain water’s ability to
dissolve ionic solid.
Instructional Activities:
Investigating the Cause of the Fish Kill
Lesson 1
Intro to
solubility w/
curve
Lesson 2
Solution
conc.
Prelab
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Heavy metals, Dissolved
pH
molecular
substances
Lesson 3
Wet lab:
Constructing
a Solubility
curve
Lesson 7
Dissolved
gases
Lesson 4
Dissolving
Ionic
Compounds
3 Simulabs
Lesson 8
Data Analysis
Assessments

Embedded:
Simulab worksheets
 Graphing exercise


Homework
Reading Guides
 Your Turns
 Pre and Post Lab Report


Formal
Making Decisions: Data Analysis