What makes a spoon disintegrate

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At some point the solution becomes saturated. This means that if you add more of the compound, it will not dissolve anymore and will remain solid instead. This amount is dependent on molecular interactions between the solute and the solvent. In this activity you will investigate how much of various compounds you can dissolve in water. How do you think sugar and salt compare? Observations and results Did all of your tested compounds dissolve in distilled water?

They should have—but to different extents. Water in general is a very good solvent and is able to dissolve lots of different compounds. This is because it can interact with a lot of different molecules. This is because each of these compounds has different chemical and physical properties based on their different molecular structures. They are all made of different chemical elements and have been formed by different types of bonds.

Depending on this structure it is more or less difficult for the water molecules to break these bonds and form new ones with the solute molecules in order to dissolve them into a solution.

Cleanup You can dispose of each of your solutions in the sink. Keep the water running for a while afterward to flush your sink properly. Dispose of all remaining solids in the regular trash. Wash your hands with water and soap. This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Key concepts Chemistry Property of matter Solutions Solubility Introduction Have you ever added a spoon of sugar to your tea and wondered why it disappeared?

Into one table sugar cup measure grams of sugar. Into one baking soda cup measure 20 grams of baking soda. Into one Epsom salts cup measure grams of Epsom salts.

For each cup weigh it and write down the mass weight. Add milliliters of distilled water into each cup. Take a look at the beta version of dw. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better. We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. With an ice cream, at a party, or with a lunchtime delivery - plastic spoons are ubiquitous.

And when we're finished with them we throw them straight away. DW tracks a plastic spoon's journey through the world, step by step. India is in the process of privatizing large state-owned companies and many people are wondering what advantages and disadvantages this will bring.

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