dissoluzione

Dissoluzione, or dissolution in English, is a term used across several disciplines to denote a process by which a substance becomes dispersed within another to form a homogeneous phase, or the termination of a formal arrangement. Etymology traces to Latin dissolutio. In chemistry, dissolution refers to the process by which a solute dissolves in a solvent to form a solution. Dissolution relies on solvation and, for ionic compounds, may involve dissociation into ions. The rate and extent of dissolution depend on temperature, agitation, particle size, and the chemical nature of solute and solvent; solubility defines how much solute can be dissolved at a given temperature. Dissolution can be endothermic or exothermic, depending on the interactions involved.

In legal and organizational contexts, dissolution describes the formal ending of an entity’s existence: dissolution of a partnership, corporation, or nonprofit, followed by winding up, payment of debts, and distribution of assets. Voluntary dissolution follows the agreement of members or shareholders; involuntary dissolution may result from insolvency, failure to meet statutory requirements, or court orders. The term also applies to the dissolution of a government or parliament, a political act that typically triggers elections or reorganization.

Beyond these core senses, dissolution appears in pharmacology (the dissolution rate governing drug release) and materials science (dissolution of coatings or films), among other fields. See also solution, solubility, solvent, dissolution rate.