For classroom instruction on solubility, mixtures and solutions at the elementary grade levels.

1. The Physical Property of
Solubility
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2. The Physical Property of
Solubility
By Moira Whitehouse, PhD

3. Solubility is the physical property
which describes how easily a
substance dissolves (breaks down,
become liquid), or if it dissolves at all
in another substance. For this
presentation, we will observe some
substances that dissolve in water
and some that don’t.

4. We will also discuss:
Mixtures where some of the
ingredients keep their physical
properties
AND
Mixtures in which the ingredients
lose some of their physical properties

5. •When some substances are placed
together in a mixture, they maintain
(keep) their physical properties.
•When other substances are mixed,
one or maybe both substances lose
some of their physical properties.
•When one of the two substances
that are mixed together dissolves,
one, or maybe both substances, will
lose some of their properties.

6. When a substance dissolves in
water, the mixture that is formed is
called a solution. In a solution:
• the two substances mix evenly
•and, as stated before, one or
both of the substances lose some
of their physical properties.

7. In a previous presentation, we discussed the
solubility of sugar, sand and salt in water.
Circle the substance (s) that dissolved in water.
Check the substances that did not dissolve in
water.

8. Yes, sugar and salt dissolved in water
forming sugar and salt solutions. Sand, on
the other hand, did not dissolve in water..

9. Circle the substance(s) that mixed evenly.
Check the substance(s) that did not mix
evenly.

10. Sugar and salt break into molecules and their
molecules mix evenly with the water
molecules. Since molecules are invisible, we
can no longer see the sugar or salt.
If the molecules were
greatly magnified, this
is how molecules of
sugar and water or
molecules of salt and
water might look.

11. The molecules of sand do not break apart nor
do they mix evenly with the water molecules.
When you stop stirring the mixture, the
grains of sand sink to the bottom of the
container.
This is how the
molecules of water and
sand might look after
the sand settles to the
bottom of the
container.

12. When a solid
such as sugar or
salt dissolves in
water, they
seems to
disappear.
What properties
do sugar and
salt lose when
they dissolve in
water?

13. Yes, they lose
their color, their
texture and their
state of matter.

14. However, we know that a substance such as
sugar or salt is still there because we can
taste it—that is a property it does not lose.
Sugar—yummy, tastes sweet Salt—yucky, tastes salty.

15. Also, if you leave a solution of sugar and
water or salt and water out on the counter
for several days, what happens?
a. The sugar or salt disappear.
b. The sugar or salt water take on a different
taste.
c. The water evaporates and sugar or salt
crystals form.
d. The sugar and salt evaporate along with the
water.

16. When the water evaporates, crystals of sugar or salt
form—the sugar and salt is still there. Only the water
changes to a gas. The salt or sugar is left behind as solid
crystals.
crystals of salt crystals of sugar
http://www.bigfoto.com/miscellaneous/photos-16/index.htm
Pawel C
http://www.flickr.com/

17. What about sand?
Did sand lose any
of its physical
properties when it
was mixed with
water?

18. When we stopped shaking the
mixture of sand and water, the
sand settled to the bottom of the
flask. It did not lose any of its
physical properties when it was
mixed with water. It still was a
solid, a tan color, and felt gritty.
You can separate a substance that
settles by pouring off the water or
pumping it through a filter.

19. Animals live in water.
They defecate and
urinate in the water.
They die and decay in
the water. You can
imagine the different
substances that are
dissolved in lake
water.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/
But water cleans itself. When water mixed with
other substances evaporates, the other substances
are left behind. As a result, the liquid water droplets
that condense as clouds is clean pure water. So is
the rain water that falls from these clouds.

20. Let’s look at some other substances and
see if they dissolve in water.
What about cloves—a spice we put in our
food? Does it dissolve in water? What do
you think. Let’s look and see.

21. No, cloves do not dissolve in water. They
float on top of the water.
Did the cloves lose
any physical
properties when
mixed with water?
Circle Yes or No
How could you separate
water and a substance that
floats such as cloves?

22. Yes, you could skim the cloves off the top
of the water.

23. What about Epsom Salts, a substance used
in bath salts? Do you think it will dissolve
in water? Yes or No

24. After putting the Epsom salts in the water, this
is what you see. Did Epsom salts dissolve in
water? Yes or No
Explain your answer.

25. What about Borax, a substance often used in
detergents and cosmetics?
Do you think it will dissolve in water? Yes or No
Explain the reason for your answer.

26. Yes, Borax does
dissolve in water.
What physical
properties did it lose
when it was mixed
with water?

27. As you saw, borax is a substance that
dissolves in water. The liquid that results
from mixing water and Borax is called
a. a molecule
b. a solution
c. a mixture
d. both b and c

28. You can separate borax and water after
the borax has dissolved by:
a. Pouring the borax solution through
a filter
b. Letting the borax settle
c. Letting the water evaporate
d. Skimming the borax off the water

29. Yes, you could leave the borax solution
out for several days and let the water
evaporate. What would be left behind?

30. Yes, you could leave the solution out and
let the water evaporate
Crystals of Borax would be left behind.

31. Yes, you could leave the solution out and
let the water evaporate
Crystals of Borax would be left behind.
Sometimes people bend pipe cleaners into
the shape of a snowflake. Then, they dip it
in a solution of Borax. Look and see what
happens after the water evaporates.

32. A pipe cleaner
in the shape of a
snowflake
dipped in a
borax solution.
Water
evaporated
leaving behind
crystals of solid
borax.
TheDamnMushroom http://www.flickr.com/

33. What if we mix Cherry Kool-Aid mix which
contains food coloring and cherry flavoring and
water?
Will the food
coloring and
cherry flavoring
dissolve in
water?
Yes or No

34. Yes, the Kool-Aid mix does
dissolve in water—it
mixes evenly with the
water.
What physical property
or properties does the
Kool-Aid mix lose?
What physical property
or properties does it not
lose?

35. What if we mix another liquid with water?
For instance lemon juice.
•Will they mix evenly?
Yes or No
•Does lemon juice dissolve
In water?
Yes or No

36. Yes, lemon juice and water mix evenly and
form a solution.
What physical property or properties of lemon
juice change when it is dissolved in water?

37. Now let’s think about mixing another
liquid with water? This time we mix oil
and water?
•Does oil dissolve in water?
Yes or No
•Do oil and water mix evenly?
Yes or No

38. No, oil does not dissolve in water.
Oil and water do not mix evenly. As soon
as you stop shaking the mixture, the oil
rises and floats on top of the water.

39. White table vinegar is mixture acetic acid
of water and acetic acid
(about 5% acetic acid,
95% water).

40. •Does acetic acid dissolve in water?
• Table vinegar
a. is a solution b. is not a solution
•Explain your answer.

41. Crude oil is a mixture of
many different liquid
substances that are
mixed together evenly.
http://commons.wikimedia.org

42. Liquid petroleum gas
chemicals Some
substances
gasoline for cars
found in
jet fuel
paraffin wax crude oil
diesel fuel
lubricating fuel
waxes, polishes
ship fuel
oil for heating homes
tar for roads and roofs

43. The different
substances in
crude oil are
separated by
heating the crude
oil. Since different
substances have
different boiling
points, each
substances boils
off at different
temperature and
http://commons.wikimedia.org
thee gas is
captured.

44. Gases can also dissolve in water. Carbon
dioxide is dissolved in all our sodas along
with sugar, color and flavoring. It is the
bubbles of carbon dioxide in sodas that
give the drink its fizz. You cannot see the
carbon dioxide in the drink.

45. However, shake the soda, hit it with a bat or,
better yet add some Mentos. The bubbles of
carbon dioxide are released as foam.
magician13134 Jason Pratt www.flickr.com

46. Solutions of solids dissolved in water

47. Solutions of liquids
dissolved in water

48. Solutions of gases
dissolved in
water.
Carbon dioxide and
oxygen dissolved in
lakes and oceans
Carbon dioxide
dissolved in the
water in soda pop

49. In summary:

50. •When certain substances mix with
water they dissolve.

51. •When certain substances mix with
water they dissolve.
•When a substance dissolves in water
the resulting liquid is called a solution.
.

52. •When certain substances mix with
water they dissolve.
•When a substance dissolves in water
the resulting liquid is called a solution.
•When a substance dissolves in water,
that substance loses some of its physical
properties.