EXPERIMENT 1: CONCEPT OF SOLUBILITY & MISCIBILITY

OBJECTIVES
To become familiar with the components of a solution
2.

To examine some of the terms and concepts associated with solutions.

3.

To investigate solute and solvent interaction.

4.

To learn to make inferences about the nature of substances, based on their solubility or
miscibility.

PROCEDURES
Required PPE : Goggles/safety glass, Lab Coat, Shoes, Gloves
NO SEQUENCE OF STEPS
POTENTIAL
HAZARDS
i
Chemicals
Hexane : Irritant
Ethanol : Irritant
Hexane (C6H14),
NaCl : Irritant
Ethanol (C2H5OH),
(COOH)2 :Irritant
Sodium chloride (NaCl),
Paraffin : Irritant
Oxalic acid [(COOH)2],
CH2Cl2 : Irritant
Paraffin,
Iodine : Corrosive
Cooking oil,
KI : Irritant
Methylene chloride (CH2Cl2),
Iodine (I2) or potassium iodide solution
(KI)

1
2

A. Solids in Liquids
Label nine test tubes as 1 to 9.

Nil

Fill test tube 1, 2 and 3 with distilled i . Spillage

water (approximately full).
ii. Hazardous chemical
Fill test tube 4, 5 and 6 with ethanol
(approximately full).

PREVENTATIVE
MEASURES
i . Wear proper PPE
ii. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
iii. Safety Briefing prior start
the class
iv. Use fume hood

Nil
i . Training on handling of
pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
iii. Wear proper PPE

Fill test tube 7, 8 and 9 with hexane

(approximately full).
3

Weigh 1.0 g sodium chloride and put it i . Spillage

into test tube 1, 4 and 7, each.

i. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE

Shake the mixture vigorously for about 30 i . Spillage

seconds.
Observe whether the solute dissolve in the
solution or not.

i. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE
iii. Wash thoroughly after
handling

Record the data in Table 1.

5

Weigh 1.0 g oxalic acid and put it into test i . Spillage

tube 2, 5 and 8, each. Repeat step 4.

i. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE

Weigh 1.0 g paraffin and put in into test

tube 3, 6 and 9, each. Repeat step 4.

B. Miscibility of Liquids
Add water, ethanol and hexane to 3 i . Spillage
different test tubes (approximately full).
Add 1 mL cooking oil to each of the test
tubes. Froth gently to mix.

i . Training on handling of
pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
iii. Wear proper PPE

Record your observations in Table 2.

C. The Relative Solubility of a Solute in Two Solvents

Mix 2 ml methylene chloride and 4 ml i . Spillage
water.
Observe the relative position of each
liquid, by noting the volume of each
liquid.

i. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
ii. Wear proper PPE
iii. Wash thoroughly after
handling

Shake the mixture for five seconds and

allow the liquid to separate. What do you
observe?
8

Add 2 drops of an iodine or potassium i . Spillage

iodide solution to the test tube.
Note the colour of each layer and their
intensities.

Shake the test tube gently for 20 seconds. i . Spillage

Allow the liquids to separate.
Note again the colour of each layer.

10

Based on the relative intensity of the Nil

colours of the 2 layers, in which solvent is
the iodine more soluble?

i . Training on handling of
pipette
ii. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
iii. wear proper PPE
i. Handle chemicals
carefully to avoid spillage
ii. wear proper PPE
iii. Wash thoroughly after
handling
Nil

RESULTS
A. Solids in Liquids
Table 1
Solute

Solvent

B.

Sodium chloride

Oxalic acid

Paraffin

Water

Ethanol

Hexane

Miscibility of Liquids
Table 2
Solvent

Observations

Water
Ethanol
Hexane

C.

The Relative Solubility of a Solute in Two Solvents

1.

Mix 2 ml methylene chloride and 4 ml water. Observe the relative position of each
liquid, by noting the volume of each liquid. Shake the mixture for five seconds and
allow the liquid to separate. What do you observe?
Observations: ______________________________________________________

2.

Add 2 drops of an iodine or potassium iodide solution to the test tube and note the
colour of each layer and their intensities.
Colour of the aqueous layer: __________________________________________
Colour of the methylene chloride layer: _________________________________

3.

Shake the test tube gently for 20 seconds. Allow the liquids to separate and note again
the colour of each layer.
Colour of the aqueous layer: __________________________________________
Colour of the methylene chloride layer: _________________________________

4.

Based on the relative intensity of the colours of the 2 layers, in which solvent is the
iodine more soluble?
_________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSIONS
1. Using the solubility results obtained in this experiment, and knowing that sodium chloride
is ionic and water is very polar, make inferences about the nature (polar or nonpolar)
of each of the following solutes and solvents.
Solutes:

Oxalic acid, paraffin

Solvents:

Ethanol, hexane

2. Infer the nature (polar or nonpolar) of cooking oil. Give reasons for your answer.
EXERCISE
1.

Explain the difference between miscible and soluble.

2.

Characterize these compounds as soluble or insoluble in water

3.

a.

CaCO3

b.

ZnSO4

c.

Hg(NO3)2

d.

NH4ClO4

While working in a machine shop you spilt a spot of grease on your shirt sleeve. In
order to remove it, what would you use as a solvent with which to wash the spot?
Water, ethanol or hexane? Explain why.