Chem IA

Topic: concentration of salt and its

boiling point

Name: Harini Shankari

Grade: 8 F
Research question:
To what extent does the concentration of salt ( magnesium sulphate ) affect the boiling point
of the water

Description:
the idea of this experiment is about finding the concentration of magnesium sulphate in
different temperature of boiling points (I am going to increase it by adding 10 grams to each of the
beaker). So I am going to have five beakers with different amounts of magnesium sulphate but the
same volume of water. After that I am going to heat the salt and find which amount of salt is going
to affect the boiling point. The staring amount is going to 50 grams and the second beaker will
contain 60 grams and it will continue. I am going to note what temperature does each beaker needs
to reach the boiling point.

Introduction [Personal Engagement]:

always I have thought why although every time when my mom cooks the same dish it take
different time and does not be the same. Does the ingredients in it affects the time? Or does the
quantity of the ingredients affect the time? So I started to research about it. But some people said it
changes and some people said it doesn’t. So I thought to do it by myself. But I was not sure what
ingredient should I take. When I researched about it majority of it said salt. So I did it and I saw
some slight changes. and then I thought what will happen if I use some other salt which is totally
different from the normal salt. Then I found about magnesium sulphate. so will it be the same or
will I see some difference?

Background information:
 If the salt concentration increases then the boiling point of water will increase. This is
because when a solute is present in a solvent, there is not as much surface are for the solvent
particles, which decreases the amount of vapour pressure.

 salt does the very opposite of making water boil faster. Instead, it makes it take longer for
the water to boil! The salt actually increases the boiling point of the water, which is when
the tendency for the water to evaporate is greater than the tendency for it to remain a liquid
on a molecular level.

 Whenever a non-volatile substance is dissolved in a solvent, the boiling point of the solvent
increases. The higher the concentration (molality), the higher the boiling point. You can
think of this effect as dissolved solute crowding out solvent molecules at the surface, where
boiling occurs
Variables:

 The control variable:

the water

 The independent variable:

The different concentrations of salt solution

 The dependent variable:

The boiling point

Chemical/Apparatus required:
 5 beakers ( 250cm3 )
 salt (magnesium sulphate)
 thermometer
 Water
 measuring cylinder
 Bunsen burner

Procedures:
First the 5 beakers ( 250cm3 ) are placed with the same amount of water but different
concentrations of salt (magnesium sulphate).
change the amount of salt solution by adding extra 10 grams to each water solution in the
beaker.
Then, take a bunsen burner to heat the salt solution.
The time taken for the in the burner to make it boil will be until the magnesium sulphate
boils (each beaker will differ).
After the magnesium sulphate boils , take a thermometer and check the temperature and note
it down.
At last, repeat the same step for the next beaker.

Data :

Temperature:
Water (cm3) -
10 grams + water -
20 grams + water -
30 grams + water -
40 grams + water -
50 grams + water -
Hypothesis:
I think the more magnesium sulphate I add to the water it will take more time and the less
magnesium sulphate I add the less time it will take. Because mostly in boiling , only the quantity
will affect the time and even I researched in Internet and some magazines.

Safety measures:
Bunsen burner
 dont burn your hands wear gloves.
 And dont go so close to it.
 Wear eye goggles if you are using any harmful chemicals

Disposal:
throw the salt solution in a bin. Its very simple and easy because it is not that
harmful.