A student was comparing the solubility of equal amounts of table salt and table sugar at different temperatures. The table below shows the four samples that the student used and the temperature of the water that they were dissolved in.
| Sample | Name | Chemical formula | Temperature of water (${ }^{\circ} C$ ) |
| ------ | ----------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| 1 | Table sugar | $C_{12}H_{22}O_{11}$ | 80 |
| 2 | Table sugar | $C_{12}H_{22}O_{11}$ | 45 |
| 3 | Table salt | NaCl | 55 |
| 4 | Table salt | NaCl | 63 |
Which of the samples most likely had the highest solubility?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
Answer (1)
Solubility of solids generally increases with temperature.
Compare the temperatures of the samples.
Sample 1 (Table sugar at 80°C) has the highest temperature.
Therefore, sample 1 most likely had the highest solubility: 1 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given four samples of table sugar and table salt at different temperatures. We need to determine which sample most likely had the highest solubility.
Solubility and Temperature The solubility of most solids, including table sugar and table salt, increases with temperature. This means that a higher temperature generally leads to a higher solubility.
Comparing Temperatures Comparing the temperatures of the four samples:
Sample 1 (Table sugar): 80°C
Sample 2 (Table sugar): 45°C
Sample 3 (Table salt): 55°C
Sample 4 (Table salt): 63°C
Determining Highest Solubility Sample 1, table sugar at 80°C, has the highest temperature among the four samples. Therefore, it is most likely to have the highest solubility.
Final Answer The sample with the highest solubility is sample 1.
Examples
Imagine you're making lemonade. You'll notice that sugar dissolves more easily in warm water than in cold water. This is because the solubility of sugar increases with temperature. Similarly, in cooking or chemistry, understanding how temperature affects solubility helps in preparing solutions and carrying out reactions effectively. For example, making a simple syrup for cocktails requires dissolving sugar in water, and heating the mixture can speed up the process.
