How do you fully dissolve a powder (e.g. sodium carbonate) into distilled water?
I did an experiment where I had to initially make a solution and put 0.01 moles of sodium carbonate into 20mL of distilled water. However, whilst most dissolved, not completely.
I did an experiment where I had to initially make a solution and put 0.01 moles of sodium carbonate into 20mL of distilled water. However, whilst most dissolved, not completely.
1 Answer
The solubilities you see quoted in the literature are EQUILIBRIUM concentrations...
Explanation:
And often it is hard to achieve these equilibrium concentrations (this is a kinetic rather than a thermodynamic phenomenon). So how do you get such solids into solution? One of the best ways is to use an ultrasonic bath, the which should be available in your lab. And so get a slurry of the carbonate in a separate flask, and give it a good blast on the sonicator, and ALL the solid should go up into solution.
By the way sonicators are VERY good for cleaning jewellery, amongst other things. So you could ingratiate yourself with the secretarial pool in your establishment, by popping their rings, and earings, and necklaces, and bracelets, into a beaker with water and detergent, and sonicating the beaker, followed by a rinse with ethanol. Make sure you give the jewellery back to the right owner, otherwise you will be in the poo!
