Solubilitás

Solubilitás refers to the ability of a substance, the solute, to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous solution. It is a quantitative measure of how much solute can dissolve in a specific amount of solvent at a given temperature and pressure. Solubility is typically expressed in units such as grams of solute per 100 grams of solvent, or molarity (moles of solute per liter of solution).

Several factors influence solubility. The nature of both the solute and the solvent is paramount; "like dissolves like" is a common adage, meaning polar solutes tend to dissolve in polar solvents, and nonpolar solutes in nonpolar solvents. Temperature plays a significant role, with most solid solutes becoming more soluble as temperature increases, while the solubility of gases generally decreases with rising temperature. Pressure has a less pronounced effect on the solubility of solids and liquids but is critical for gases, where solubility increases with increasing partial pressure of the gas above the liquid, as described by Henry's Law.

When a solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve under given conditions, it is said to be saturated. A solution with less solute than saturation is unsaturated, and one with more solute than saturation is supersaturated, a metastable state that can readily precipitate excess solute. Understanding solubility is fundamental in various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, pharmacy, and environmental science, impacting processes from chemical reactions to drug delivery and pollution control.