Reason why the displacement method is not suitable for determining the volume of salt
The displacement method is often used to determine the volume of an irregularly-shaped object by measuring the volume of water displaced when the object is submerged in it. However, this method is not suitable for determining the volume of salt due to a few reasons.
1. Solubility: Salt (sodium chloride) readily dissolves in water. When salt is submerged in water, it quickly dissolves and becomes part of the aqueous solution. Thus, the salt does not displace the water in a way that can be accurately measured.
2. Hygroscopic nature: Salt has hygroscopic properties, meaning it readily absorbs water from the environment. When salt is exposed to air, it absorbs moisture and can change in volume, making it difficult to measure the accurate displacement of water.
3. Density variation: The density of saltwater is different from that of freshwater. As salt is added to water, it increases the density of the solution. This change in density can affect the accuracy of the displacement method, as the volume of displaced water may not correspond directly to the volume of salt being measured.
Therefore, alternative methods such as weighing the salt or using a volumetric flask to measure the volume directly are more suitable for determining the volume of salt.