Jill wants to dissolve 30 grams of X in 1 liter of water. She does so by stirring 30 grams of the large crystals into 1 liter of water at 45°C. How could Jill change her method to dissolve all the X faster?

Answer 1

To dissolve 30 grams of substance X in water faster, Jill can adopt several strategies:

1. Increase Temperature: While she is already using warm water at 45°C, she could increase the temperature further (as long as the substance can tolerate it) to enhance the solubility of X. Warmer water encourages particles to move faster and interact more effectively.

2. Increase Surface Area: Instead of using large crystals, Jill could grind the crystals of X into a fine powder. A larger surface area allows for more contact with water, leading to faster dissolution.

3. Stirring: She should ensure that she consistently stirs the solution. Increased agitation helps distribute the solute throughout the solvent and brings fresh solvent into contact with the solute, which can significantly increase the dissolution rate.

4. Use of a Smaller Volume of Water: Initially dissolving X in a smaller volume of hot water and then diluting it to 1 liter afterward can lead to quicker dissolution. This concentrates the solute in a smaller volume, promoting faster dissolution.

5. Ultrasonic Agitation: If available, using ultrasonic agitation or a sonicator can create high-frequency vibrations that promote the mixing of the solute with the solvent, potentially speeding up the dissolution process.

6. Increase Stirring Speed: If she can, increasing the speed of stirring will create more turbulence in the solution, helping to dissolve the crystals more quickly.

By implementing one or more of these methods, Jill should be able to dissolve the X much faster.