What are some examples of soluble solids in water?
Many common solids readily dissolve in water, forming solutions.
Solubility refers to the ability of a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical substance to dissolve in a solvent (usually a liquid) to form a homogeneous solution. When a solid is soluble in water, its particles disperse evenly throughout the water molecules.
Based on available information, several common substances are known to be soluble solids in water. These include various salts, sugars, and other compounds.
Here are some examples:
- Sugar (like table sugar, sucrose)
- Salt (like table salt, sodium chloride)
- Sodium hydroxide
- Copper sulfate
- Ammonia (though it's a gas at room temperature, it dissolves readily to form ammonium hydroxide, acting effectively like a soluble solid when considered in terms of its aqueous behaviour)
- Hydrogen chloride (a gas, but dissolves to form hydrochloric acid, similar to ammonia)
- Calcium chloride
- Lithium chloride
- Lithium hydroxide
- Potassium bromide
- Magnesium chloride
These substances are typically either ionic compounds (like most salts and hydroxides) or polar molecular compounds (like sugar), which interact favorably with the polar water molecules, allowing them to dissolve.
Understanding Solubility
Solubility is influenced by factors like temperature, pressure (for gases), and the nature of the solute and solvent. Water is often called the "universal solvent" because it can dissolve a wide variety of substances.
Consider some of the examples:
- Sodium Chloride (Salt): When you add salt to water, the positive sodium ions (Na⁺) and negative chloride ions (Cl⁻) are pulled apart by the water molecules (H₂O), which have partial positive and negative charges. The ions become surrounded by water molecules in a process called hydration.
- Sugar (Sucrose): Although sugar is not an ionic compound, it is a polar molecule due to the uneven distribution of electrons within its structure. The partial charges on the sugar molecule allow it to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, leading to dissolution.
Solubility in Practice
Understanding solubility is important in many applications, from cooking and cleaning to industrial processes and biological systems. For instance:
- Dissolving salt or sugar is fundamental to cooking.
- Many cleaning products contain soluble solids that work when mixed with water.
- Nutrients are absorbed by plants and animals in soluble forms.
Here is a summary of the examples from the reference:
| Substance | Type (General) | Soluble in Water? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Polar Molecule | Yes |
| Salt (NaCl) | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Sodium Hydroxide | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Copper Sulfate | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Ammonia | Polar Molecule | Yes |
| Hydrogen Chloride | Polar Molecule | Yes |
| Calcium Chloride | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Lithium Chloride | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Lithium Hydroxide | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Potassium Bromide | Ionic Compound | Yes |
| Magnesium Chloride | Ionic Compound | Yes |
These examples illustrate the principle that many ionic and polar compounds readily dissolve when placed in water.
