Dissolving
Dissolving is forming a solution by mixing two or more materials is called dissolving.
Dissolving happens because particles attract each other and are always moving.
Example – When we mix sugar and water, the water particles have a stronger pull on the sugar particles than the other sugar particles do. Also, because the particles are always moving, they can move beside each other and the attraction happens more. The particles of sugar eventually move around and mix evenly with the water.
Solutes and Solvents
Example – Sugar being dissolved in water.
• The solute is the substance (sugar) that dissolves in the solvent (water) to form a solution.
• The solvent (water) dissolves the solute (sugar) to form solution.
• There is usually more solvent than the solute in a solution.
• Sugar can dissolve in water, therefore sugar is soluble in water.
Soluble means able to be dissolved in a particular solvent. Something that is insoluble is unable to dissolve in a solvent.
Solubility is the mass of a solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent to form a saturated solution at a given temperature.
A saturated solution is when no more solute will dissolve in a solvent.
An unsaturated solution is when more of a solute can still dissolve in a solvent.
A supersaturated solution is when a solvent contains more solute than can normally be dissolved.
Universal Solvent
The universal solvent is water.
Rate of dissolving is how fast a solute dissolves in a solvent.
Factors that affect the rate of dissolving
• Agitation helps the solutes dissolve faster.
• Smaller pieces dissolve faster than larger pieces of a substance.
• In many substances the rate of dissolving increases as temperature increases.
Rate of Dissolving