schwerlösliche

schwerlösliche is a German adjective that translates to "sparingly soluble" or "difficult to dissolve" in English. It is commonly used in chemistry and materials science to describe substances that do not readily dissolve in a particular solvent. The degree of solubility is a critical factor in many chemical processes, including reactions, separations, and formulations.

A substance is considered schwerlösliche when only a small amount of it can be dissolved in a given volume of solvent at a specific temperature and pressure. This is often quantified by its solubility product, which is an equilibrium constant representing the maximum concentration of ions that can exist in a saturated solution of an ionic compound. Compounds with a low solubility product are generally classified as schwerlösliche.

Factors influencing the solubility of a substance include the nature of the solute and solvent (like dissolves like principle), temperature, and pressure. For solids, solubility often increases with temperature, while for gases, it typically decreases.

In practical applications, understanding what is schwerlösliche is important. For example, in pharmaceutical formulations, drugs that are schwerlösliche may require special techniques to enhance their bioavailability. In environmental science, the solubility of pollutants can affect their transport and persistence in ecosystems. Similarly, in industrial processes, the solubility of reactants or products dictates the choice of solvents and reaction conditions. The term emphasizes that dissolution is a process that occurs, albeit at a very slow rate or to a limited extent, rather than a complete absence of dissolution.