soluble

Definition

Soluble is a term used in chemistry to describe a substance that can be dissolved in a liquid. A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. The solvent is the liquid that dissolves the solute. The solute is the substance that is dissolved in the solvent.

The solubility of a substance is the amount of solute that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent at a given temperature. The solubility of a substance depends on the chemical properties of the solute and solvent.

For example, sugar is soluble in water because the sugar molecules can interact with the water molecules. The sugar molecules are polar, which means that they have a positive and negative end. The water molecules are also polar, so they can interact with the sugar molecules.

Salt is soluble in water because the salt molecules can dissociate into ions. The sodium ions are positive, and the chloride ions are negative. The water molecules can surround the ions, and this helps to dissolve the salt.

The solubility of a substance can be affected by temperature. In general, the solubility of a substance increases with temperature. This is because the molecules of the solute have more energy at higher temperatures, and they are more likely to interact with the solvent molecules.

How can the word be used?

Salt is soluble in water.

Different forms of the word

Adjective:

able to be dissolved in a liquid.

Noun:

a soluble substance.

Etymology

The word "soluble" comes from the Latin word "solutus", which means "loosened" or "dissolved".

The first recorded use of the word "soluble" in English was in the 16th century.

The word "soluble" is derived from the Latin word "solutus", which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *swel, which also means "loosened" or "dissolved".

Question

What is soluable?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

Explain the concept of solubility and how factors like temperature and particle size influence the solubility of substances, providing real-world examples to illustrate your answer.

Answer:

Solubility refers to the ability of a substance, known as a solute, to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous mixture called a solution. The degree of solubility is influenced by several factors, with temperature and particle size being significant determinants.

Temperature plays a crucial role in solubility. In general, an increase in temperature often leads to an increase in solubility for solid solutes in liquid solvents. This relationship is evident when making hot tea – stirring sugar into hot water results in faster and more complete dissolution compared to using cold water. However, for gases dissolved in liquids, such as carbon dioxide in soda, solubility decreases as temperature rises.

Particle size also affects solubility. Finely ground substances have a larger surface area, allowing more solute particles to come into contact with the solvent. This increased surface area enhances the rate of dissolution. For instance, powdered instant coffee dissolves more quickly than larger coffee granules due to its finer particle size.

Real-world examples like dissolving salt in water for cooking, preparing beverages, or creating cleaning solutions showcase the application of solubility in daily life.