“Ideal Lab Setup” Notes
Title: How temperature, solute particle size, agitation and nature of (or type of) the
solvent affects the dissolving rate of sugar
(If each group is only doing one part, the title could read, for example, “How temperature affects the dissolving rate of sugar”)
or – depending on teacher discretion – they could get creative and call it something like “It’s gone!” or “Race to Dissolve”
Purpose: to determine how temperature, solute particle size, agitation and nature of the solvent affect the dissolving rate of sugar. (Again, this will vary if only one part is being done.)
Materials:
Temperature
2 thermometers
50 ml of cold water in a 100 ml beaker
50 ml of hot water in a 100 ml beaker
timer (unless students go subjective by merely stating which one dissolved faster instead
of wanting to record the actual time)
2 sugar cubes (lead them into this – it is easier to measure)
Particle size
2 - 100 ml beakers with 50 ml of water (at the same temperature)
timer (see note above)
1 sugar cube
equivalent amount of granulated sugar
balance for mass of both size sugars
Agitation
2 – 100 ml beakers with 50 ml of water (at the same temperature)
timer (see note above)
2 sugar cubes
1 scoopula, stirring rod or spoon
Type or nature of solvent
4 sugar cubes
4 - 50 ml beakers
4 solvents chosen by the teacher (suggestion might include water, oil, HCl and alcohol)
Graduated cylinder
Procedure
Part 1: Temperature
A. Record the temperature of the water in each beaker in data table.
B. At the same time, carefully drop one sugar cube in each beaker.
C. Time how long it takes for each sugar cube to dissolve (or record which cube
dissolves first).
Part 2: Size of Solute Particle
A. Zero the balance.
B. Measure and record the mass of the sugar cube on the given line data table.
C. Measure an equal amount of granulated sugar.
D. At the same time, put the sugar cube in one beaker and the granulated sugar in the
other.
E. Time how long it takes for each sugar cube to dissolve and record this in the data table
(or record which cube dissolves first).
Part 3: Agitation
A. At a “go” from your lab partner, carefully drop one sugar cube into each beaker.
B. Stir one beaker while allowing the other one to sit.
C. Time how long it takes for each sugar cube to dissolve and record this in the data table
(or record which cube dissolves first).
Part 4: Nature of the Solvent
A. Label the first beaker with the name of the solvent to be tested.
B. Measure 30 ml of the first solvent and put it into its labeled beaker.
C. Repeat steps A and B for the other 3 solvents.
D. At a “go from your timer, simultaneously drop one sugar cube into each beaker.
E. Time how long it takes for each sugar cube to dissolve and record this in the data table
(or record which cube dissolves first).
Data
How temperature, solute particle size, agitation and nature of (or type of) the
solvent affects the dissolving rate of sugar
Condition being testedTime needed for sugar cube to dissolve (seconds)
Hot / Cold
Temperature / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Cube / Granulated
Size of solute particle / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Stirred / Not stirred
Agitation / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Water / Alcohol / HCl / Oil
Nature of solvent
OR (if student only wants to record which dissolves the fastest)
How temperature, solute particle size, agitation and nature of (or type of) the
solvent affects the dissolving rate of sugar
Condition being tested / Situation in which sugar dissolved the fastestTemperature
Size of solute particle
Agitation
Nature of the solvent
*The second way, while less scientifically exact, often works best since sugar doesn’t seem to totally dissolve.
Conclusion
Sugar dissolves faster: in hot water
if granulated
if stirred
depends on solvents used but, of the four listed here, in water