Water Temperature and Solubility Scenario

A chemist is investigating how water temperature affects the solubility of sugar. They dissolve sugar in water at three different temperatures: [tex]$20^{\circ} C$[/tex], [tex]$40^{\circ} C$[/tex], and [tex][tex]$60^{\circ} C$[/tex][/tex]. The amount of sugar dissolved is measured.

- Formulate a hypothesis:
- Identify the independent variable.
- Identify the dependent variable.
- List the control variables.
- List the constants.



Answer :

Certainly! Let's go through each part step-by-step:

1. Scenario: A chemist is investigating how water temperature affects the solubility of sugar. They dissolve sugar in water at three different temperatures: [tex]$20^{\circ} C , 40^{\circ} C$[/tex], and [tex]$60^{\circ} C$[/tex]. The amount of sugar dissolved is measured.

2. Independent Variable: The independent variable is the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. Here, the independent variable is:
- Water temperature (with values [tex]$20^{\circ} C , 40^{\circ} C$[/tex], and [tex]$60^{\circ} C$[/tex]).

3. Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment. Here, the dependent variable is:
- Amount of sugar dissolved.

4. Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested scientifically. Considering the scenario, a plausible hypothesis could be:
- "If the temperature of water increases, then the solubility of sugar in the water will also increase."
- This means that at higher temperatures, more sugar will dissolve in the water.

5. Control Variables: Control variables are the factors that are kept constant to ensure that the results are due to the independent variable. Here, the control variables could include:
- Volume of water used in each test.
- Type of sugar used.
- Duration for which sugar is allowed to dissolve.
- Stirring method and duration.

6. Constants: Constants refer to all the other parameters that are kept unchanged throughout the experiment. Here, the constants could be:
- The volume of water in each trial.
- The type of container used for dissolving sugar.
- The purity and type of sugar used.
- The method of measurement to determine the amount of dissolved sugar.

By carefully identifying and controlling these variables, the chemist can ensure that any changes in the amount of sugar dissolved can be attributed to the changes in water temperature.