Solubility

Do Now What do you think it means for something to be soluble? Is there a (rough) way to tell if something is soluble in water? What is the difference between the solute and solvent? What is a cation and an anion? What is a precipitate?

What does it mean for something to be soluble? Imagine adding salt, sodium chloride (NaCl) into a glass of water and stirring, what happens? In the case of NaCl being added to water, the sodium and chlorine atoms disassociate from one another and thus dissolve in the water. Because the salt is being dissolved, it is called the solute, and because water is doing the dissolving, it is called the solvent.

Knowing if it is Soluble Like Dissolves Like This phrase is a reference to the polarity of the solute, and solvent. Remember polarity is a compound with an overall uneven pull on the electrons. So if something is polar, and like dissolves like, it would take something __________________ to dissolve it. And if something were non-polar it would take something _______________ to dissolve it.

Soluble, Insoluble, Slightly Soluble Soluble refers to a substance that when placed in the solvent will (dissolve/partially dissolve/not dissolve). Insoluble refers to a substance that when placed in a solvent will (dissolve/partially dissolve/not dissolve). Slight soluble refers to a substance that when placed in a solvent will (dissolve/partially dissolve/not dissolve).

Exceptions While there is a large list of ionic and polar bonds that do not follow the “like dissolves like” rule, there is at least a reason. If the bonding forces between the solvent, or those between the solute, are too strong to be broken, then a soluble solution will not form. For example, if Na-Cl had a much stronger bond, then water would not be able to break it apart.