Solubility: (a measure of how much solute will dissolve in a solvent)
Water is known as the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. But why do substances dissolve in water? Let's take a look at sugar.
Sugar is a molecular solid held together by fairly weak intermolecular forces. When dissolved in water, the weak bonds between the individual sucrose molecules are easily broken and released into the solution.
What does it take to break the bonds of sugar? It takes energy. When the sugar dissolves in water, energy is given off when the slightly polar sucrose molecules from intermolecular bonds with the polar water molecules.
VOCABULARY
Solvent:A liquid capable
of dissolving another substance
Solute:A substance dissolved
in another substance
Atom:a unit of matter,
the smallest unit of an element
Molecule:the simplest structural
unit that displays the characteristic physical and chemical properties
of a compound
Compound:a pure substance
consisting of atoms of different elements in definite proportion
Element:a substance composed
of atoms having an identical number of protons in each nucleus