Salts & Solubility

We use table salt every day, but we normally don’t stop to think how salts are created and which parameters determine how soluble they are in water. There are lots of interesting experiments that can be performed with salts, and computer simulations provide you with an accessible way to complete them.

Salts & Solubility is a relatively lightweight Java-based program designed to help users understand how salts behave in various situations. It allows you to perform various simulations, and it is very intuitive.

The first experiment you can perform uses regular table salt (NaCl). You can add more salt to the water by either moving the shaker or specifying the exact number of Sodium and Chlorine ions.

Only a certain amount of salt can be dissolved in a given volume of water. You can add more water to the bowl, as well as drain it at any time.

Of course, there are many other types of salts out there, and the second simulation allows you to analyze how soluble they are in water. There are quite a few you can experiment with, such as Strontium Phosphate, Copper Iodide and Mercury Bromide.

The final simulation allows you to create a new type of salt by defining the cation and anion charge, as well as the Ksp value. You can then add it to the water and see how easily it dissolves.

Salts & Solubility is a relatively simple program that enables you to perform some basic simulations that help you understand how salts dissolve in liquids and which parameters affect their solubility. It is very easy to use and can prove to be a valuable tool for teachers.