2007-06-14 10:25:35 · 9 answers · asked by Monte 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Boil off all the liquid. If there is precipitate left over it was a salt solution
2007-06-14 10:29:09 · answer #1 · answered by mark r 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Measure the density of the water. Of course, that will really only work if there is quite a bit of salt added to the water. It depends on how sensitive the scale is.
Another is a flame test. Take a wire. I forgot what kind of wire. Dip the end of the wire in the liquid and then place that end in a flame on a bunsen burner. If there is salt in the water then the flame around the wire will burn with a kind of yellow color (assuming you are talking about salt as in sodium chloride).
You could also add silver nitrate to a sample of the water. If the water turns cloudy then there is chloride in the water (or some other anion that causes silver to precipitate).
Looking at the previous answers I can see one that I forgot entirely. Check the conductivity of the water. That one is pretty simple. I wish I had thought of it.
The measure the boiling time is not a good test. First, how will you measure when the water boils faster in an accurate method? You can take two samples of pure water and get them to start boiling at different times. Next up, adding salt to water does not significantly change the boil time.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1894612.htm
2007-06-14 17:31:17 · answer #2 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boil off the liquid. If it is pure there will be no substance left in the beaker.
If a crystalline substance is left then you will know a salt solution was present.
2007-06-14 17:30:46 · answer #3 · answered by zippythewonderslugohio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why complicate things by doing outlandish experiments?
Just smell the water. Anyone with a normal nose should be able to smell the salt.
2007-06-14 17:41:56 · answer #4 · answered by Stu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boil it. The salt water solution will come to a boil faster.
2007-06-14 17:29:22 · answer #5 · answered by Heather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try floating an egg in it, if you concentraion of salt is high enough then it will float.
Also try evaporating a sample of it, if salt stays behind you have salt water if nothing stays behind its water
2007-06-14 17:29:58 · answer #6 · answered by sd d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could test the pH
pH of water is 7 and the pH of salt water is slightly off
2007-06-14 17:44:32 · answer #7 · answered by provi43 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh... simple or tricky?
Freezing would work as salt solution has a lower melting point.
(Obviously, you'd need to be able to monitor the temperature, so that'd be a lab method.)
2007-06-14 17:29:30 · answer #8 · answered by The Arkady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weigh it, or see if something is more buoyant in it.
2007-06-14 17:29:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋