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Chemistry Forums for Students => Physical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: khem_newbie on March 28, 2007, 09:19:03 PM

Title: solubility of potassium bitartrate
Post by: khem_newbie on March 28, 2007, 09:19:03 PM

Hi,

I was doing an experiment on solubility of potassium bitartrate. When potassium nitrate was used as a solvent, due to common ion effect, solubility of potassium bitartrate decreases.


when a "Graph of the solubility of Potassium Bitartrate against the concentration of Potassium Nitrate" was plotted, i got a straight line with a negative gradient. I understand in theory, a curve should be obtained, any idea why?

Also, if glucose is used as the solvent, i think solubility of potassium bitartrate remains unchanged with varying concentrations of glucose. Am i right? If so, why is it so?

Please advice,

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: solubility of potassium bitartrate
Post by: AWK on March 29, 2007, 01:43:11 AM

What about the common ion effect?

Title: Re: solubility of potassium bitartrate
Post by: khem_newbie on March 29, 2007, 05:32:59 AM

well, since there is a common ion, potasssium, according to Le Chatelliers Principle, e equilibrium will shift to the left and disfavor the formation of potassium and bitartrate ions. Hence solubility decreases.