Solubility Lab Report

Solubility Lab Report

7.1.13

Group Lithium: Nicolette, Nina, and Makena

It's no myth, just call us Lith.

Dr. Forman

Abstract: 

      The purpose of this solubility curve lab is to understand the solubility curve and to examine the solubility of every substance. We had to test the solubility of succinic acid at three different temperatures: 45°C, 55°C, and 65°C. The process for each temperature was the same; however, our results were different because as the temperature rose, the solubility also rose. This experiment required all of our group members to be attentive in order to not make any mistakes, considering one mistake could totally change our results.

Procedure Overview: 

     Throughout the entire lab, my group and I were being very careful and cautious of the hotplate and group next to us. We made sure that we had a plan for using the hotplate because both groups had to share it. When the group next to us broke their graduated cylinder, we really experienced plenty of teamwork, not only with our group, but with theirs as well. 

Procedure:

1. Prepare a warm water bath with approximately 300 mL water added to a 400 mL beaker. Heat the beaker on a hotplate with stirring. Heat to 45 degrees C. Use beaker tongs to remove the hot beaker once you've measured the beaker to the right temperature using a thermometer. Be very careful, use teamwork and do not let the water bath rise more than  5 degrees above the temperature needed. 

In the process of heating up the beaker

2. Have a member of the group get 4 to 5 grams of succinic acid. 

3. Have another member prepare an ice bath with water and ice cubes using a 400 mL beaker. 

4. Using the tongs, remove the beaker from the hotplate if it has reached the given temperature. 

5. Pour the given succinic acid in a graduated cylinder using a funnel.

6. Add 20 mL of distilled water to the graduated cylinder. 

7. We put the graduated cylinder into the warm water bath, warming up the mixture, mixing every 30 seconds for 7 minutes. This required plenty of extra teamwork. We also had to mix carefully so that we would not break our graduated cylinder like the other group because we would have had to start over if we did. 

8. Make sure that the graduated cylinder is constantly at the proper given temperature. 

9. At the end of the 7 minutes, carefully decant the clear liquid and the succinic acid into different test tubes. 

10. Pour the hot water into the sink, carefully. 

11. Then, place the test tube into the ice bath for 2 minutes. Stir once or twice.

12. Remove and allow the test tube to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.

13. Observe and record.

14. Causing the crystals to settle to the bottom, carefully/lightly stir the mixture. 

15. Measure the height of the crystals in mm using a ruler. Have an other member in the group do the same, and report the average to Dr. Forman. 

16. Rinse the crystals from the test tubes using a collection beaker. 

17. Repeat but for the next time, use the temperature of 55 degrees C, then next use 65 degrees C. 

55 degrees C

                 

65 degrees C 

18. Wash your hands and clean up carefully. 

Results:

Group Lithium Results-

Trial	Crystal Height (mm)
45 degrees C	20 mm
55 degrees C	70 mm
65 degrees C	95 mm
Average	61.6 mm

Class averages and class data-

Trial	Crystal Height (mm)
45 degrees C	14.1 mm
55 degrees C	101.2 mm
65 degrees C	102.8 mm

      The data above shows the aggregated data for each group and class averages. Different groups have different numbers for many reasons. Some of the reasons for this may include different amounts of succinic acid being drawn, or a variation in temperatures. We were given a little freedom in our temperatures and amount of acid taken. Each group may have a variation of 4-5 grams of succinic acid, and a 2 degree difference up and down in temperature. These reasons may have caused a variation in the class averages. 

Data Analysis: 

1. 45 degrees C: 14.1

    55 degrees C: 101.3

    65 degrees C: 102.8

2. The yellow represents the class data (mean), while the pink represents our group data (mean). 

Questions: 

1. It is useful to collect data from more than one trial at a particular temperature because doing so will get you more accurate results.

2. We made use of the properties of a saturated solution at different temperatures because due to the fact that succinic acid is a solid, the temperature of the water rising will have caused the solubility of the succinic acid to rise as well. 

3. Yes, due to supersaturation, all of the succinic acid that originally dissolved in the water crystallized out of the solution. As shown in the photos in the procedure overview, we went through the different processes of heating the solution, cooling the solution down, leaving it at room temperature, allowing the dissolved substances to reform. 

4. Yes, we did have enough data points to make a reliable solubility curve for succinic acid. Due to these results, we know that the higher the temperature, the more soluble the substance is. 

5. Having too much succinic acid, not cold enough of an ice bath, the hot plate not hot enough, or not being careful enough could lead to errors in this investigation. Each error would affect our data through different numbers and different class temperature averages. 

6. A different procedure for gathering data to construct a solubility curve would be to take a step out of the procedure, such as removing the ice bath step or using lower temperatures to heat the beaker.

Significance of lab: 

    The significance of this lab was to learn more teamwork, and was to learn to work even better with our lab groups. The purpose of this lab was to construct a solubility curve for succinic acid. Also, we had to think about how we were going to gather data through our knowledge of solubility and how this was going to guide us in constructing a solubility curve.