EXPERIMENT 4: Solubility Curve

A. Objectives

1. To determine solubility of ammonium chloride at different temperatures.

2. To construct the solubility curve of ammonium chloride.

B. Introduction

A solution can be saturated, unsaturated or supersaturated. Solubility of a substance refers to the

maximum amount of substance that can dissolve in a given volume of solvent at a certain temperature.
We measure solubility of a substance by measuring the maximum mass of solute that can be dissolved
in 100 grams of solvent at a given temperature.

The relationship between solubility and temperature can be expressed by a solubility curve. The
solubility curves of several compounds are shown on the right. Such curves reveal the maximum
amount of solute that can be dissolved in 100 grams of water over a range of temperatures. The
solubility of most compounds increases as temperature increases, although exceptions do exist.

C. Laboratory Materials

Materials Materials
graduated cylinder 15 g NH4Cl
triple beam balance Ice
iron stand and iron ring
250 mL beaker
Thermometer
bunsen burner
test tubes and rack
wire gauze
filter paper
stirring rod
test tube holder
test tube brush

D. Rubrics for Scoring

For procedures:

 3 points for procedures that requires 5-15 minutes to perform.

 5 points for procedures that requires 16-30 minutes to perform.
 8 points for procedures that requires 31 and more minutes to perform

For Data Table:

 5 points is given to the whole data table.

o 5-outstanding –no mistakes identified
o 4- excellent- 1-3 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 3- good- 4-6 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 2- fair- 6-9 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 1- poor- 10-12 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 0- The answer is totally different from the expected response
For the graph:

 5 points is given to the whole graph.

o 5-outstanding –no mistakes identified
o 4- excellent- 1-2 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 3- good- 3-4 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 2- fair- 4-5 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 1- poor- 6-9 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 0- The answer is totally different from the expected response

For the question/s :

 2 points is given to each question

For Calculations:

 2 points is given to each computation

o 2 points for every correct value with complete solution
o 1 point for every incorrect value with solution
o 0 point no attempt at all

E. Procedure

1. Place 4.00g, 5.00 g, 6.00 g and 7.00 g of NH4Cl labeled A, B, C and D, respectively, in four
separate test tubes. Add 10.0 Ml water into each of the different test tubes. Make sure to label
the test tubes.
2. Fill a beaker half-full with water and place test tubes A and B containing a mixture of 4.00 g
and 5.00 g NH4Cl and water into the beaker. Bring the beaker to a boil.
3. While waiting for the water in the beaker to boil, heat the test tube containing 7.00 g using a
Bunsen burner while stirring continuously until all the solute dissolves. Place a thermometer
in the test tube. Make sure not to bring the contents of the test tube to a boil.
4. When all of the solute has dissolved, allow the contents to cool and continue to stir the
solution. Record the temperature when the solid crystals start to form.
5. After recording the temperature, heat the test tube again until all the crystals have dissolved.
Allow the crystals to cool again and record the temperature when crystals start to form. (Note:
The second reading is a second trial to determine the crystallization temperature. Record the
average of the two readings)
6. Repeat the same procedure for test tube C, or the test tube containing 6.00 g. Determine the
temperature when crystallization occur.
7. Do the same thing for test tubes A and B. But do not heat the test tubes directly with the
Bunsen burner. The source of heat will be the hot water bath.
8. Use an ice bath to hasten cooling for the test tube containing the mixture of 4.00g of NH 4 Cl and
water.

D. Data Table

Solubility (grams) NH Trial 1 Temperature Trial 2 1 Average

4 Cl/ 10.0 mL water (ºC) Temperature (ºC) Temperature
4.00g
5.00g
6.00g
7.00g
E. Questions
1. Convert solubility from grams/10 mL to grams/100 mL.
2. Construct the solubility graph for ammonium chloride using the values you obtained from your
result. Label the x-axis temperature and the y-axis solubility in grams/10 mL. Use 10ºC interval for the
temperature.
3. Connect the points and try to draw the curve for the different values obtained.

The standard values of the solubility curve for ammonium chloride obtained from a handbook
is as follows.

Temperature (ºC) Solubility NH 4 Cl/ 100 mL water

30 41.4
50 50.4
70 60.2
90 71.3

4. Using the same set of axis you used to construct the solubility curve of your data result, draw the
standard values of the solubility of ammonium chloride using a different color ink.
5. Calculate your % error.
6. Using your solubility curve data standard values, determine the solubility of ammonium chloride at
60ºC.