Effect of Ultrasound and Particle Size on Solubility of Crystal

Solubility of crystal plays an important role in both biological and chemical field. For this project, we will focus on two factors that affects the solubility of crystal which is effect of ultrasound and effect of particle size. In this research project, the solute, benzoic acid (AR Grade) which also categorised as sparingly soluble acid that is not easy to dissolve in water. It is a colourless crystalline solid and a simple aromatic carboxylic acid. Salts of benzoic acid are used as food preservatives and benzoic acid also is an important ancestor for the industrial synthesis of many other organic substances. This acid shows low aqueous solubility and dissolution rate and this has become the main concern in the industry that require dissolution of this chemical. In this project, the solvent that will be used to dissolve the benzoic acid is the distilled water. The experiment was conducted by applying the ultrasound during the dissolution of benzoic acid in distilled water in a different range of time and according to different particle size groups. Result shows the relation between different particle size groups and different range of time during sonication on the solubility of the crystal. The purpose of conducting this research project is because of the lack of literature data on solubility of benzoic acid which is also the acid that is categorised as sparingly soluble acid. The experimental outcome shows the crystal with smaller particle size have higher solubility compared to crystal with larger particle size and the solution with longer time of sonication also have higher solubility compared to solution that being sonication with a shorter time.