NaNO3 soluble or non soluble
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Soluble
Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) is soluble in water. This solubility is due to the nature of both the sodium ion (Na⁺) and the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻), which are known for forming compounds that easily dissolve in water.
To understand why NaNO₃ is soluble, it helps to consider the general rules of solubility in chemistry. One important rule is that all salts containing alkali metal ions, such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, are soluble in water. Sodium is an alkali metal, so any compound that contains the sodium ion is expected to dissolve in water. Another helpful rule is that nitrates are always soluble, regardless of what other ions are present. The nitrate ion is large and can easily disperse in water molecules, making it very effective at forming aqueous solutions.
When sodium nitrate is added to water, the positive sodium ions and the negative nitrate ions become surrounded by water molecules. This process is called dissociation. Water molecules, which are polar, attract the ions and pull them away from the solid structure into solution. As a result, NaNO₃ dissolves completely, and no solid is left behind unless the solution is saturated.
This high solubility has many practical uses. Sodium nitrate is used in fertilizers, explosives, and food preservation because it dissolves easily and distributes uniformly in liquids. In agricultural applications, for example, its solubility allows nitrogen, a vital nutrient for plants, to be readily available for absorption.
In summary, sodium nitrate is highly soluble in water because both sodium and nitrate ions form compounds that dissolve easily. This property is supported by basic solubility rules in chemistry and explains the wide range of applications for this compound.
