Water Solvent Lab Worksheet
Physical Science Lab
Water Solvent Lab Worksheet
Page 1 of 2
Student Name:
Date:
Period / Class:
Lab Station #:
Key Words To Know
Solvent
The liquid that dissolves the solid. (Water)
Solute
The solid that gets dissolved. (Salt & Sugar)
Solution
A uniform mixture where solute particles are evenly spread out.
Dissolve
To break into particles so tiny they seem to disappear.
Materials Check (Check each item at your table) 2 cups • 1 solvent • 2 solutes
2 Clear Cups (labeled A & B) 5 grams Table Salt (Solute 1) 2 Stirring Spoons / Sticks Room Temp Water (Solvent) 5 grams Sugar (Solute 2) Digital Balance & Stopwatch
Step-by-Step Procedure Check off each step as you finish
1
Prepare Solvent (Water) Equal Volume
Pour exactly 100 mL of room-temperature water into Cup A and Cup B. Keep the water levels identical.
2
Examine Solutes Dry Pre-Lab Table
Look closely at dry salt and dry sugar on your sample trays. Record their color, shape, and grain size in Table 1 on Page 2.
3
Test Salt (Cup A) Start Timer
Weigh and add exactly 5 grams of Salt into Cup A. Start the timer immediately. Stir steadily until all salt crystals dissolve. Record time in Table 2.
4
Test Sugar (Cup B) Keep Same Speed
Weigh and add exactly 5 grams of Sugar into Cup B. Start timer and stir with a clean spoon at the same speed until fully dissolved. Record time in Table 2.
5
Compare Solutions & Clean Up Graph On Page 2
Check liquid clarity. Rinse spoons, wipe station, and turn to Page 2 to record data, construct your bar graph, and complete conclusions.
Fair Test Rule: Keep water volume (100 mL), solute mass (5 g), and stirring speed identical. Turn to Page 2 for Data & Bar Graph →
Observations, Bar Graph & Conclusions
Student: Page 2 of 2
Table 1: Dry Solute Properties
| Solute | Color & Crystal Size | Will it dissolve? |
|---|
| Salt (A) | | Y N |
| Sugar (B) | | Y N |
Table 2: Dissolving Test Data 100 mL water
| Cup & Solute | Time to Dissolve | Liquid Clarity |
|---|
| Salt (5 g) | sec | Clear Cloudy |
| Sugar (5 g) | sec | Clear Cloudy |
Part 3: Graph Your Results (Bar Graph)
Follow Directions Below
Variable Placement Rules:
Independent Variable (X-Axis): Type of Solute (Salt vs. Sugar) — place on the horizontal bottom axis.
Dependent Variable (Y-Axis): Time to Dissolve (seconds) — place on the vertical side axis.
Graphing Checklist Steps:
- 1 Write Title: Name your graph at the top line (e.g., Effect of Solute on Dissolve Time).
- 2 Set Number Scale: Number the Y-axis tick marks by equal intervals (e.g., count by 5s or 10s) starting at 0 up to your highest recorded time.
- 3 Draw & Shade Bars: Draw one bar for Salt and one bar for Sugar matching your exact measured times from Table 2.
Graph Title:
▲ Dependent Variable: Time to Dissolve (seconds)
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_____
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0
[ Salt Bar ]
[ Sugar Bar ]
Salt (Solute A) 5 grams
Sugar (Solute B) 5 grams
Independent Variable: Type of Solute ►
Part 4: Lab Conclusions (Use your data and graph to answer)
1. Graph Evidence & Variables: According to your bar graph, which solute dissolved faster? Cite the exact times: dissolved in s, while the other took s.
2. Variable Roles: Why is the solute type called the independent variable, and why is dissolving time called the dependent variable?
3. Particle Explanation: When solid crystals dissolve, do they disappear from existence? Explain what water molecules do to the solute particles:
4. Universal Solvent & Fair Testing: Why is water called the "universal solvent," and why was it necessary to keep the solvent amount (100 mL), temperature, and stirring speed identical?
Lab Status: Graph Completed & Station Cleaned
Teacher Signature / Stamp:
