Dissolve

Dissolve refers to the process by which a solute becomes incorporated into a solvent to form a homogeneous solution. When a substance dissolves, its particles disperse at the molecular level and the mixture appears uniform throughout. The substance that is dissolved is called the solute, and the substance in which it dissolves is the solvent.

Dissolution involves breaking the forces that hold the solute's particles together (for crystalline solids this is lattice energy) and forming new interactions between solute and solvent particles (solvation or hydration). The net energy change, the enthalpy of solution, can be endothermic or exothermic depending on the pair. The rate at which dissolution occurs depends on surface area of the solute, agitation, temperature, and the polarity and temperature of the solvent. A solution is saturated when no more solute can dissolve at a given temperature; if more solute is added, it may remain undissolved or precipitate if conditions change.

Common examples include table salt in water and sugar in tea. Gases such as carbon dioxide can dissolve in liquids, with solubility affected by pressure and temperature.

Dissolution is a fundamental concept in chemistry and a practical concern in pharmacology, environmental science, and materials processing. In pharmacology, the rate at which a drug dissolves can influence bioavailability. Dissolution can be reversed by crystallization or precipitation, restoring a heterogeneous or solid–liquid system when conditions favor lower solubility.