Question
Magnesium sulfate is a salt. Magnesium sulfate is soluble in water.
The solubility of a salt is the mass of the salt, in g, that dissolves in 100 cm3 of water at a specified temperature.
Plan an investigation to determine the solubility of magnesium sulfate in water at 50 °C. Your plan must include how the solubility of magnesium sulfate, in g per 100 cm3 of water, can be found.
You are provided with solid magnesium sulfate, distilled water and common laboratory apparatus.
…… [6]
Notes for use in qualitative analysis
Tests for anions
anion test test result carbonate, CO32– add dilute acid, then test for carbon effervescence, carbon dioxide dioxide gas produced chloride, Cl – acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate
bromide, Br – acidify with dilute nitric acid, then cream ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate iodide, I– acidify with dilute nitric acid, then yellow ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous silver nitrate nitrate, NO3– add aqueous sodium hydroxide, ammonia produced
[in solution] then aluminium foil; warm carefully sulfate, SO42– acidify with dilute nitric acid, then white ppt.
[in solution] add aqueous barium nitrate sulfite, SO32– add a small volume of acidified the acidified aqueous potassium aqueous potassium manganate(VII) manganate(VII) changes colour
from purple to colourless
Tests for aqueous cations
cation effect of aqueous sodium hydroxide effect of aqueous ammonia aluminium, Al 3+ white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., insoluble in excess a colourless solution ammonium, NH4+ ammonia produced on warming – calcium, Ca2+ white ppt., insoluble in excess no ppt. or very slight white ppt.
chromium(III), Cr3+ green ppt., soluble in excess green ppt., insoluble in excess copper(II), Cu2+ light blue ppt., insoluble in excess light blue ppt., soluble in excess, giving a dark blue solution iron(II), Fe2+ green ppt., insoluble in excess, green ppt., insoluble in excess, ppt. turns brown near surface on ppt. turns brown near surface on standing standing iron(III), Fe3+ red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess red-brown ppt., insoluble in excess zinc, Zn2+ white ppt., soluble in excess, giving white ppt., soluble in excess, giving a colourless solution a colourless solution
Tests for gases
gas test and test result ammonia, NH3 turns damp red litmus paper blue carbon dioxide, CO2 turns limewater milky chlorine, Cl 2 bleaches damp litmus paper hydrogen, H2 ‘pops’ with a lighted splint oxygen, O2 relights a glowing splint
sulfur dioxide, SO2 turns acidified aqueous potassium manganate(VII) from purple to colourless
Flame tests for metal ions
metal ion flame colour lithium, Li+ red sodium, Na+ yellow potassium, K+ lilac calcium, Ca2+
orange-red barium, Ba2+ light green copper(II), Cu2+ blue-green