I'm wondering if you guys could help me out with a post-lab question:
Predict observations for the addition of the following solvents to sodium benzoate:
-Water
-Diethyl Ether
-6% aqueous HCl
-6% aqueous NaOH
-6% NaHCO3
Predict observations for the addition of the following solvents to an aqueous solution of sodium benzoate:
-6% aqueous HCl
-6% aqueous NaOH
Since this is a solubility lab, my thoughts were than sodium benzoate would dissolve in water, but not diethyl ether (since it is polar). Google seems to confirm this.
I further predicted that it would dissolve in the three acid/bases since HCl/NaOH/NaHCO3 are all polar, like with glucose which dissolved in water. However according to google, sodium benzoate doesn't "dissolve" in HCl but "reacts" with it to form benzoic acid
I'm not sure about the last additional tests either My guess would be that the aqueous solution of sodium benzoate is more polar that just sodium benzoate so it'll react with HCl and NaOH.. But then.. I'm not sure why they would put in this test since it already reacts/dissolves in it without being in solution.
Edited by Ken, 26 May 2010 - 01:47 PM.