Let’s Learn:
Water is considered the universal solvent. Many solutions
contain water as their solvent.
 Carbon dioxide mixes with water to form carbonic acid
that gives soft drinks their distinct taste.
 Commercial vinegar is made up of acetic acid
dissolved in water.
Many substances are soluble in water, that is, they can dissolve
in water. Coffee, milk powder, chocolate granules, sugar, salt,
orange juice, alcohol and detergent are all soluble in water.
However, there are substances that cannot be dissolved in
water. Oil and other similar substances are insoluble in water.
 When a liquid is not soluble in another liquid, we say
that these two liquids are immiscible. Hence, oil and
water are immiscible.
 Alcohol and water are miscible because alcohol can
be dissolved in water.
The amount of a solute that can be dissolved in a given amount
of solvent is called its solubility. There are different factors that
affect the solubility of different substances.
Why is alcohol highly soluble in water? Why is oil insoluble in
water? The answer lies in the nature of these substances. The
phrase “like dissolves like” describes the kind of interaction that
goes on between a solute and a solvent.
We can divide substances into polar and nonpolar substances.
 Polar substances are those whose molecules have
positive and negative charges. Water is a polar
substance, hence, it will dissolve other polar
substances, such as alcohol and salt.
 Nonpolar substances are those whose molecules are
neutral. Oil is nonpolar and therefore cannot be
dissolved in water.
Another factor that affects solubility is temperature.
 Sugar dissolves faster in hot water than in cold water.
Heating often allows a solid or liquid solute to dissolve
more quickly.
 In the case of gaseous solutes, solubility decreases
with an increase in temperature.
 If you want to prove this, try heating a glass of soft
drink. You will see bubbles on the surface of the soft
drink. This means that carbon dioxide is rising to the
surface and escaping into the air.
Another factor that affects solubility is surface area. The smaller
the solute particles, the greater the surface area of the solute.
Thus, powdered sugar dissolves faster in water than sugar
cubes.
Remember:
 Solutions are homogeneous mixtures. They are
classified as solid, liquid or gaseous.
 A solution consists of a solute and a solvent. The solute
is the substance that is dissolved. The solvent is the
substance that dissolves the solute.
 Water is the universal solvent.
 The particles of a solution are too small that they
cannot be seen by the naked eye. They do not settle
upon standing and cannot be filtered.
 The solubility of a solute in a given solvent depends on
temperature, the nature of the solute and the solvent
and surface area of the solute.
Let’s Learn:
Water is considered the universal solvent. Many solutions
contain water as their solvent.
 Carbon dioxide mixes with water to form carbonic acid
that gives soft drinks their distinct taste.
 Commercial vinegar is made up of acetic acid
dissolved in water.
Many substances are soluble in water, that is, they can dissolve
in water. Coffee, milk powder, chocolate granules, sugar, salt,
orange juice, alcohol and detergent are all soluble in water.
However, there are substances that cannot be dissolved in
water. Oil and other similar substances are insoluble in water.
 When a liquid is not soluble in another liquid, we say
that these two liquids are immiscible. Hence, oil and
water are immiscible.
 Alcohol and water are miscible because alcohol can
be dissolved in water.
The amount of a solute that can be dissolved in a given amount
of solvent is called its solubility. There are different factors that
affect the solubility of different substances.
Why is alcohol highly soluble in water? Why is oil insoluble in
water? The answer lies in the nature of these substances. The
phrase “like dissolves like” describes the kind of interaction that
goes on between a solute and a solvent.
We can divide substances into polar and nonpolar substances.
 Polar substances are those whose molecules have
positive and negative charges. Water is a polar
substance, hence, it will dissolve other polar
substances, such as alcohol and salt.
 Nonpolar substances are those whose molecules are
neutral. Oil is nonpolar and therefore cannot be
dissolved in water.
Another factor that affects solubility is temperature.
 Sugar dissolves faster in hot water than in cold water.
Heating often allows a solid or liquid solute to dissolve
more quickly.
 In the case of gaseous solutes, solubility decreases
with an increase in temperature.
 If you want to prove this, try heating a glass of soft
drink. You will see bubbles on the surface of the soft
drink. This means that carbon dioxide is rising to the
surface and escaping into the air.
Another factor that affects solubility is surface area. The smaller
the solute particles, the greater the surface area of the solute.
Thus, powdered sugar dissolves faster in water than sugar
cubes.
Remember:
 Solutions are homogeneous mixtures. They are
classified as solid, liquid or gaseous.
 A solution consists of a solute and a solvent. The solute
is the substance that is dissolved. The solvent is the
substance that dissolves the solute.
 Water is the universal solvent.
 The particles of a solution are too small that they
cannot be seen by the naked eye. They do not settle
upon standing and cannot be filtered.
 The solubility of a solute in a given solvent depends on
temperature, the nature of the solute and the solvent
and surface area of the solute.