why does all the information available state that the maximum amount of table salt that can dissolve in water is: 36-39 g/100 ml @ 20 degrees Celsius. i put 35.7 g in 100 ml over a week ago, check it 3 times daily and a lot of it never dissolved. the water remained cloudy and when held to a light source you can clearly see plenty of crystals undissolved floating in suspension. you can also observe the suspended crystals chain together and fall to the bottom of the beaker. so why are we taught wrong information?
The information stating that the maximum amount of table salt that can dissolve in water is around 36-39 grams per 100 milliliters at 20 degrees Celsius is an approximation based on standard conditions. However, it's important to note that there are several factors that can affect the solubility of a substance, including the purity of the salt, temperature, and agitation.
In your specific case, it seems that the solubility of salt in your solution might be lower due to one or more of these factors. The cloudiness and the presence of undissolved crystals suggest that the solution might be saturated, meaning it has reached its maximum solubility point at that specific temperature. This can happen when you exceed the maximum solubility, which may be lower in your case due to factors like impurities in the salt or temperature variations.
Even though the general guideline for the solubility of table salt is commonly stated as around 36-39 grams per 100 milliliters at 20 degrees Celsius, it should be considered as an approximation rather than an absolute rule. Real-life scenarios can often deviate from ideal conditions due to various factors and variables.
Therefore, it's important to take into account experimental observations like yours and understand that solubility can vary depending on the specific conditions. In science, we constantly learn and refine our knowledge based on new observations and experiments, and this helps us update and correct any inaccuracies or generalizations in existing information.