Here’s a explanation of how pH influences solubility:
1. Acidic or Basic Conditions
- Some salts or compounds react with H⁺ (acid) or OH⁻ (base) ions in solution.
- Changing the pH can increase or decrease solubility.
2. Examples
- Solubility increases in acidic solution:
- Certain salts like calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) dissolve better in acid because H⁺ reacts with carbonate ions.
- Solubility increases in basic solution:
- Some salts containing metals (like Al³⁺) dissolve better in base because they form soluble hydroxide complexes.
3. Why It Happens
- Changing pH shifts chemical equilibrium, removing ions from the solution and allowing more solute to dissolve.
In short:
pH can increase or decrease solubility depending on whether the solute reacts with H⁺ or OH⁻ ions.