3.2.8 Lab 14: Solubility Equilibrium Lab Assignment
AP Chemistry Sem 2 Name: ________________________
Points Possible: 50 Date: _____________
Adapted from: Quality Science Labs, Lab 14: Solubility Equilibrium
Adapted
...
3.2.8 Lab 14: Solubility Equilibrium Lab Assignment
AP Chemistry Sem 2 Name: ________________________
Points Possible: 50 Date: _____________
Adapted from: Quality Science Labs, Lab 14: Solubility Equilibrium
Adapted from: ChemCollective. http://chemcollective.org/vlab/vlab.php
DIRECTIONS:
Background
Ionic compounds such as salts, dissociate to form ions when they dissolve in water. An example
is sodium chloride:
(Equation 14.1) NaCl (s) → Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
Solid NaCl dissociates to become Na+ and Cl- ions. The Na+ cations are attracted to the negative
“ends” of water molecules and the Cl- anions are attracted to the positive “ends” of water
molecules. In other compounds the attraction between the cations and the anions is stronger
and there is little dissociation. These are sparingly or slightly soluble salts. An example is silver
chloride, AgCl. A beaker of this solution often has solid AgCl crystals in the bottom. The crystals
are in equilibrium with the Ag+ and Cl- ions that are in solution:
(Equation 14.2) AgCl (s) ←→ Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
In this reaction the rate of AgCl dissolving is equal to the rate of Ag+ and Cl- ions combining to
form solid AgCl. In other words, the reaction proceeds both ways at the same time and at the
same rate. The system is said to be in equilibrium. The equilibrium constant is:
(Equation 14.3) K = [Ag+ ][Cl-]
AgCl(s) is not considered in the equilibrium constant because it is a solid. We call this special
equilibrium constant the solubility product constant, Ksp. Some of the beautiful structures that
you may have seen in caves are composed of sparingly soluble calcium carbonate. This material
slightly dissolves in water and later precipitates when the water in the solution evaporates or
the solution cools. Another sparingly soluble salt is calcium oxalate, which sometimes
precipitates in our kidneys as kidney stones. These can be very painful and often require
medical treatment. The solubility product constant for this is:
(Equation 14.4) Ksp = [Ca+2][C2O4-2]
Procedure
Part I: Temperature and Solubility of Salts
1. Go to http://ir.chem.cmu.edu and click on “Virtual Lab” in the upper right-hand corner. To
start, click the “Introductory Video and Support Information” li
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