How much solute can dissolve into a solvent?

Summary

In this experiment, the dissolution of copper sulfate in water is observed to determine if there is a limit to how much can dissolve. Starting with 50 mL of water and 25 grams of copper sulfate, the process involves adding measured scoops of copper sulfate, stirring, and noting the dissolution behavior at each stage. Initially, the copper sulfate dissolves quickly, but as more is added, the dissolution slows down, and eventually, the solution reaches its saturation point, where no more copper sulfate can dissolve. The experiment concludes that there is a definite limit to how much solute water can hold.

Takeaways

• 😀 The experiment is focused on observing the solubility of copper sulfate in water and determining the saturation point where no more can dissolve.
• 😀 The experiment begins with 50 mL of water and 25 grams of copper sulfate, which is gradually added in scoops to observe the dissolution process.
• 😀 Initial observations with zero scoops show just clear water, setting a baseline for comparison as the experiment progresses.
• 😀 After adding two scoops of copper sulfate, the solution appears to dissolve completely without any visible particles remaining.
• 😀 With four scoops of copper sulfate, some cloudiness and particles are observed at the bottom, but eventually, they dissolve with continued stirring.
• 😀 As more copper sulfate is added (half of the remaining amount), it takes significantly longer for the particles to dissolve, indicating a nearing saturation point.
• 😀 The solution begins to take longer to dissolve the particles as the amount of copper sulfate increases, suggesting the water is approaching its capacity to dissolve.
• 😀 Reaching the saturation point, some crystals remain at the bottom of the container, even after extensive stirring, indicating the water can no longer dissolve any more copper sulfate.
• 😀 The solution's appearance changes, with a deeper blue color and a thicker consistency, suggesting a higher concentration of copper sulfate.
• 😀 Ultimately, after adding all 25 grams of copper sulfate, the solution reaches its limit, with visible crystals at the bottom that do not dissolve further, confirming the saturation point has been reached.

Q & A

What is the main objective of this experiment?

The main objective is to observe how much copper sulfate can dissolve in water and determine if there is a limit to the amount that can be dissolved, referred to as the saturation point.

How much water is used in the experiment?

50 milliliters of water are used in the experiment.

How much copper sulfate is measured for the experiment?

25 grams of copper sulfate are measured for the experiment.

What does the experiment aim to observe in terms of the copper sulfate dissolution process?

The experiment aims to observe how quickly the copper sulfate dissolves, if there are any crystals remaining, and the color change of the solution as more copper sulfate is added.

What is observed after the first two scoops of copper sulfate are added to the water?

After the first two scoops, the copper sulfate seems to have fully dissolved, and no particles are floating in the solution.

What happens when more scoops of copper sulfate are added to the solution?

As more scoops are added, some particles remain at the bottom, but with continued stirring, the solution eventually dissolves most of the added copper sulfate, though some particles may remain near the saturation point.

How long does it take for the solution to reach saturation?

It takes more time for the solution to dissolve as the amount of copper sulfate increases. Once the solution nears its saturation point, it takes longer for the crystals to dissolve, and some may remain at the bottom despite continued stirring.

What is the visual change in the solution as more copper sulfate is dissolved?

As more copper sulfate dissolves, the color of the solution becomes darker blue, and the solution appears thicker and less translucent.

What happens when the entire 25 grams of copper sulfate is added to the solution?

After the entire 25 grams of copper sulfate is added, crystals remain at the bottom of the container and do not dissolve completely. The solution becomes saturated and cannot hold more copper sulfate, regardless of further stirring.

What conclusion is drawn from the experiment?

The experiment concludes that there is a limit to how much copper sulfate can dissolve in the solution. Once the saturation point is reached, no more copper sulfate can dissolve, and excess particles will remain undissolved.