Meaning of dissolution in chemistry

Dissolution is the process by which a substance becomes dispersed in a solvent to form a solution. The solute and solvent interact, and the resulting distribution is considered at the molecular or ionic level rather than as visible suspended particles.

Meaning and context

When an ionic solid dissolves in water, its ions can become separated and solvated. A molecular substance can dissolve as molecules. The details depend on the solute, solvent, and whether additional chemical reactions occur.

Examples and usage

Dissolving sugar in water and melting sugar are not the same process. Dissolution involves a solvent; melting is a change from solid to liquid. A substance can dissolve without first becoming a separate bulk liquid.

What to check

Do not use reversibility alone to decide whether every dissolving process is purely physical. Some substances react with the solvent. Identify what species are present before and after the process and distinguish dissolution from solubility, which describes an equilibrium amount under stated conditions.

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