I've done an experiment in class (completely following the guide to the letter) of a solubility experiment (the solvents being water, cyclohexane and ethanol). The unknown solid did not dissolve in the water, dissolved in the ethanol but left it just slightly cloudy, and completely dissolved in the cyclohexane. We were only instructed to add them together, cap the test tubes and give it a gentle shake to catalyze any solubility. Then we were told to make a graph (Solubility curve) in Excel. But a solubility curve graph requires the temperature at which the solubility was determined. We were not instructed to do this, do what should my graph be based on? Is my professor just really bad at writing up instructions and forgot to tell us to make note of the temperature?
you will graph solubility (amount that is dissolved ) as temp increases. I suspect your Prof is bad at writeups, he assumes you know what he meant. I write that way sometimes.
My guess is he wanted a solubility vs temp for each of each solvent. That is not a short lab, you have to do each solvent as temp rises, keeping adding solute, shake, determine the temp at each time, and then take data of mass solute vs temp, for each solvent.
That is a pretty long lab for all three solvents.
If he did not want that, I am at a loss what we wanted as a solubility curve.
Based on what you have mentioned, it appears that your experiment did not include recording the temperature at which the solubility was determined. While it's possible that your professor may have overlooked this detail in the instructions, there are a few ways you can proceed to create a solubility curve graph without the temperature data:
1. Discuss with your professor: Reach out to your professor and explain the situation. Inquire whether they intentionally omitted the temperature recording or if it was an oversight. They may provide further guidance on how to proceed.
2. Research standard temperature ranges: If your experiment was conducted at room temperature, you could assume a typical range (e.g., 25°C) and use it as a reference point to create your solubility curve graph. However, it's important to note that this approach might introduce some inaccuracies, as different compounds have varying solubilities at different temperatures.
3. Conduct additional experiments: If possible, you could redo the experiment, this time noting the temperature at which you observe solubility. By including temperature data, you can create a more accurate solubility curve graph. Communicate with your professor to see if they would approve this approach.
Remember, it's crucial to consult your professor before proceeding with any alternative methods. They will provide the final say on how to address the lack of temperature data in your experiment.