Solubility

Definition

Solubility is the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure. It determines how substances interact in solutions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Temperature generally affects solubility; most solids become more soluble with an increase in temperature.
2. Pressure significantly impacts the solubility of gases, with higher pressures increasing gas solubility in liquids (Henry's Law).
3. Solubility is often expressed in units such as grams per liter (g/L) or moles per liter (M).
4. Polar solvents tend to dissolve polar solutes, and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes ('like dissolves like').
5. The presence of other solutes can affect the solubility of a substance due to common ion effect and other interactions.

Review Questions

• How does increasing temperature generally affect the solubility of most solid substances?
• What is Henry's Law and how does it relate to the solubility of gases?
• Why do polar solvents generally dissolve polar solutes better than non-polar ones?

Related terms

Saturation Point: The stage at which no more solute can be dissolved in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure.

Henry's Law: $C=k_{H}P$, where $C$ is the concentration of gas, $k_{H}$ is the Henry's law constant, and $P$ is the partial pressure of the gas.

Common Ion Effect: A decrease in the solubility of an ionic compound when a solution already contains one of its constituent ions.