The Dissolving Process

The dissolving of a solid in a liquid occurs at the surface of the solid
1. The moving solvent molecules cluster around the solute molecules. The negative ends of the sovent are attracted to the positive ends of the solute.
2. The solvent molecules pull the solute into solution
3. The moving solvent molecules spread the solute out equally throughout the solution
• This process is repeated as layer after layer of the solute is drawn into solution until all of the molecules are evenly distributed.

Factors Affecting Dissolving Rate

Action	Effect
	solid solute	gaseous solute
shake or stir	increased rate	decreased rate
increase temperature	increased rate	decreased rate
decrease temperature	decreased rate	increased rate
increase pressure	N/A	increased rate
increase solute's surface area	increased rate	N/A

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