liuottokyky

Liuottokyky, a Finnish term meaning solubility, refers to the capacity of a substance (the solute) to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous solution. At a given temperature and pressure, it is the maximum amount of solute that can be dispersed in the solvent before remaining undissolved, i.e., the solubility limit of the solute.

Solubility is commonly expressed as mass of solute per unit volume of solvent (for example grams per liter or grams per 100 milliliters) or as molarity. For ionic compounds, it is linked to the solubility product constant, Ksp, which defines the equilibrium between solid and dissolved ions. For gases, solubility often follows Henry’s law, where the amount dissolved is proportional to the gas pressure above the liquid.

Solubility depends on temperature, pressure (notably for gases), solvent polarity, and interactions such as hydrogen bonding. The presence of other ions (the common-ion effect), pH for acid–base solutes, and complexation can increase or decrease apparent solubility.

Solubility behavior varies: many solids become more soluble with higher temperature, whereas many gases become less soluble as temperature rises. Solubility curves graph the relation between solubility and temperature for specific solutes.

Applications span pharmacology, environmental science, and food chemistry. Examples include sodium chloride dissolving in water (about 357 g/L at 20°C), glucose (around 910 g/L at 25°C), and carbon dioxide’s solubility in water, which decreases with temperature and increases with pressure. Related concepts include dissolution, miscibility, saturation, and Henry’s law.