How do you think stirring affects the rate of dissolution

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  1. Rate of Dissolution
    1. Surface Area
    2. Agitation of the Solution
    3. Temperature
  2. Summary

Many people enjoy a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. Some like it unsweetened, while others like to put sugar in it. How sugar dissolves in the tea depends on two factors: how much sugar was put into the tea, and how cold it is. Tea usually has to be stirred for a while to get all the sugar dissolved.

Rate of Dissolution

Dissolution is the process by which a solute dissolves into a solvent and forms a solution. We know that the dissolution of a solid by water depends upon the collisions that occur between the solvent molecules and the particles in the solid crystal. Anything that can be done to increase the frequency of those collisions and/or to give those collisions more energy will increase the rate of dissolution. Imagine that you were trying to dissolve some sugar in a glassful of tea. A packet of granulated sugar would dissolve faster than a cube of sugar. The rate of dissolution would be increased by stirring, or agitating the solution. Finally, the sugar would dissolve faster in hot tea than it would in cold tea.

Surface Area

The rate at which a solute dissolves depends upon the size of the solute particles. Dissolution is a surface phenomenon, since it depends on solvent molecules colliding with the outer surface of the solute. A given quantity of solute dissolves faster when it is ground into small particles, rather than in the form of large pieces, because more surface area is exposed. A packet of granulated sugar exposes far more surface area to the solvent and dissolves more quickly than a sugar cube.

Agitation of the Solution

Dissolving sugar in water will occur more quickly if the water is stirred. The stirring allows fresh solvent molecules to continually be in contact with the solute. If it is not stirred, then the water right at the surface of the solute becomes saturated with dissolved sugar molecules, meaning that it is more difficult for additional solute to dissolve. The sugar cube would eventually dissolve because random motions of the water molecules would bring enough fresh solvent into contact with the sugar, but the process would take much longer. It is important to realize that neither stirring nor breaking up a solute affect the overall amount of solute that dissolves—these actions only affect the rate of dissolution.

Temperature

Heating up a solvent gives the molecules more kinetic energy. The increased rapid motion means that the solvent molecules collide with the solute with greater frequency, and that the collisions occur with more force. Both factors increase the rate at which the solute dissolves. As we will see in the next section, a temperature change not only affects the rate of dissolution, but also affects the amount of solute that dissolves.

Summary


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Stirring affects how quickly a solute dissolves in a solvent, but has no effect on how much solute will dissolve.

The amount of solute that will dissolve is affected by temperature - more will dissolve at higher temperatures. This is called the solubility of the solute . Graphs of the solubility at different temperatures can be used to determine how much will dissolve, or at which temperature a given solution will become saturated.

Stirring simply moves the solvent molecules around, allowing them to interact with the solid pieces of undissolved solute and transporting the dissolved solute away into the bulk of the solution.

In the absence of stirring, the concentration of solute will be highest close to the pieces of solute, so more solute won't dissolve into the solution until the dissolved solute has been transported away by diffusion.

Why does stirring increase the rate of dissolution?

The stirring allows fresh solvent molecules to continually be in contact with the solute. If it is not stirred, then the water right at the surface of the solute becomes saturated with dissolved sugar molecules, meaning that it is more difficult for additional solute to dissolve.

Does stirring affect the dissolution of salt?

Agitation and stirring will increase the rate at which salt dissolves in water. II. Increased movement of water molecules allow sodium ions and chloride ions to be pulled apart as shells of hydration are formed.

How does stirring affect rate of reaction?

Stirring keeps reactant particles in motion increasing the chances of collision and increasing the rate of reaction. Some reactions occur very slowly in the dark but much more quickly in light.

How does stirring affect the rate of dissolution?

Stirring -- With liquid and solid solutes, stirring brings fresh portions of the solvent in contact with the solute. Stirring, therefore, allows the solute to dissolve faster.