Multiple Choice
Why does sodium bromide (NaBr) readily dissolve in water?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Solubility Rules
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Which of the following substances is less soluble in hot water than in cold water?
A
KNO_3 (potassium nitrate)
B
NaCl (sodium chloride)
C
Ce_2(SO_4)_3 (cerium(III) sulfate)
D
CuSO_4 (copper(II) sulfate)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the general trend of solubility with temperature: Most solid solutes become more soluble in water as the temperature increases, meaning they dissolve better in hot water than in cold water.
Recall that potassium nitrate (KNO_3), sodium chloride (NaCl), and copper(II) sulfate (CuSO_4) typically show increased solubility with rising temperature, which is common for many ionic solids.
Recognize that cerium(III) sulfate (Ce_2(SO_4)_3) is an exception to this trend, as its solubility decreases with increasing temperature, making it less soluble in hot water than in cold water.
This unusual behavior can be explained by the thermodynamics of the dissolution process, where the dissolution of Ce_2(SO_4)_3 is exothermic, so increasing temperature shifts the equilibrium to favor the solid form, reducing solubility.
Therefore, among the given substances, Ce_2(SO_4)_3 is the one that is less soluble in hot water than in cold water.
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