MODULE 1: SOLUTIONS
Overview
In Grade 6, you have learned about different mixtures and their characteristics. You have
done activities where you mixed a solid and a liquid or combined two different liquids. In the
process of mixing, you have observed that these mixtures either form homogeneous or
heterogeneous mixtures. You have seen that when all parts of the mixture have the same uniform
appearance and properties, it is homogeneous.
You also learned that when different parts of the mixture can be identified, it is
heterogeneous. An example of a heterogeneous mixture is ice cubes (solid phase) placed in a
glass of soft drink (liquid phase). Different phases can be identified. When all the ice cubes are
melted, only one liquid phase is seen. It is now homogeneous.
Homogeneous mixtures are called solutions. When you put sugar into water, the solid
becomes part of the liquid and cannot be seen. You can say that the sugar dissolves in water or
the sugar is soluble in water. Solutions may be solids dissolved in liquids or gases dissolved in
liquids. There are also solutions where a gas is dissolved in another gas, a liquid in another liquid
or a solid in another solid. Gaseous, liquid, and solid solutions are all around you. Many
commercial products are sold as solutions.
In this module, you will identify common properties of solutions using different methods.
You will also learn how to report the amount of the components in a given volume of solution.
Towards the end of the module, you will investigate the factors that affect how fast a solid
dissolves in water. At the end of Module 1, you will be able to answer the following key
questions.
What common properties do solutions have?
Are solutions always liquid?
Will all solids dissolve in water?
How fast do solids dissolve in water?
Name:_____________________________________ Grade & Sec.:________ Score:________
Teacher:___________________________________ Date:________________ Rating:_______
Activity 1
What Solutions do You Find in Your Home?
Objectives
After performing this activity, you should be able to:
1. describe the observable characteristics or properties of common solutions found at
home or in stores; and
2. present the data gathered in table form to show the different properties of common
solutions.
You may make a table similar to the one below.
Products or Solution Found at Home or in Characteristics
Stores
Name:_____________________________________ Grade & Sec.:________ Score:________
Teacher:___________________________________ Date:________________ Rating:_______
Activity 2
What are the Properties of Solutions?
When you finish this activity you should be able to:
1. compare the evidence gathered with the predictions you made; and
2. describe the properties of solutions based on observations.
Materials Needed:
6 cups water
6 pieces, spoons
either of the following: cheesecloth (katsa), old, white T-shirt or filter paper
2 tablespoons each of the following: sugar, salt, mongo seeds, powdered juice, cooking
oil, vinegar
12 clear bottles or cups
2 pieces each, measuring spoons (½ tsp and 1tsp)
2 pieces each, measuring cups (½ cup and 1cup)
3 funnels or improvised funnel made from 500 mL plastic bottle
1 funnel rack
Procedure:
1. Predict which among the given samples will dissolve in water. Write your predictions in
column 2 of Table 1.
2. Put one cup of water in each of the cups.
3. Add ½ teaspoon of each of the six samples. Use the teaspoon to dissolve as much of each
sample as possible. Use a different teaspoon for each of the cups.
Q1. Describe the mixture that resulted after mixing. Write your answer in column 3.
Q2. How many phases do you observe? Write your answer and observations in column 4.
Q3. Identify the solute in each of the mixtures. Write your answers in the blank:
Q4. What is the solvent in each of the mixtures?
Table 1. Data table for Activity 2
4. Filter the mixture with filter paper using a setup similar to Figure 1. You may use katsa or old,
white T-shirt with the improvised funnel from plastic bottle.
Q4. In which mixture were you able to separate the components (solute and solvent) by
filtration? Write your observations in column 5 of Table 1.
Q5. Which of the samples are solutions? Write your answer in column 6.
Conclusion:
