lahustuvust

Lahustuvus, in Estonian often translated as solubility, is the property of a substance to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous solution. It describes how readily a solute disperses at a given temperature and pressure, and it applies to solids dissolving in liquids, as well as gases dissolving in liquids and liquids mixing (miscibility).

Solubility is typically expressed as the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve under specific conditions, such as grams of solute per 100 grams of solvent, molarity, mole fraction, or percent composition. For sparingly soluble substances, solubility is governed by equilibrium with the solid phase and is often described using the solubility product, Ksp, which defines the limit of ion concentration in solution.

Several factors influence lahustuvus: temperature, pressure (for gases), solvent polarity and hydrogen-bonding capacity, and the nature of solute–solvent interactions. In many solids, solubility increases with temperature, whereas the solubility of gases in liquids typically increases with pressure and decreases with temperature. The common-ion effect and pH can also alter solubility.

Substances can be classified as soluble, sparingly soluble, or insoluble in a given solvent, and liquids may be miscible or immiscible. A saturated solution contains the maximum solute at a given temperature, while supersaturation can occur under controlled conditions.

Understanding lahustuvus is essential in chemistry, pharmacology, environmental science, and food technology. Applications include drug formulation, water treatment, nutrient delivery, and the design of chemical processes that rely on controlled dissolution.