Name: why some substances dissolve in water
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:33.000Z
Duration: 3 min
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Minnesota Academic Standards in Science

9-12

Chemistry

3.2.1 9C.3.1.1.3

Solubility

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two main substances: the solute and the solvent.&#160;The solvent is present in greater quantity than the solute.
In a dilute solution, the proportion of solute relative to the solvent is small, whereas for a concentrated solution, the proportion is large.
When forming a solution, the solute and the solvent do not react chemically. Instead, the molecules redistribute, with individual solvent molecules surrounding the solute molecules and interacting through attractive forces. Such a dissolution process is called solvation.
To favor solvation, the solute&#8211;solvent interactions should be stronger than the solvent&#8211;solvent and solute&#8211;solute interactions.
In a solution, the solute and solvent can be any state of matter. The solution itself is a single &#8220;phase&#8221;.
The opposite of solvation is precipitation, triggered by strong solute&#8211;solute interactions. When the rate of solvation equals the rate of precipitation, a solubility equilibrium is established.
A solute&#8217;s solubility is its maximum possible concentration at solubility equilibrium in a given amount of solvent. Solubility is affected by temperature and other physical conditions like molecular polarity.
Nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents through intermolecular London dispersion forces, whereas polar or ionic solutes dissolve in polar solvents through ion&#8211;dipole or dipole&#8211;dipole interactions.
Water is a polar solvent. Hydrophilic, or water&#8209;loving, compounds are water&#8209;soluble due to the ionic charges or polar groups that enable sufficiently strong water&#8211;solute interactions. They are less soluble in nonpolar solvents because the solute&#8211;solute interactions are much stronger than any possible interaction between nonpolar solvent and polar solute molecules.
Water&#8209;insoluble, fat&#8209;soluble nonpolar compounds like oils are hydrophobic, or water-fearing, as they cannot form hydrogen bonds to compete with solvent&#8211;solvent interactions.
Amphiphilic or amphipathic compounds have both polar and nonpolar groups. For example, soaps are metal salts of fatty acids. In water, the soap molecules aggregate in spheres called micelles. Their nonpolar hydrophobic fatty acid tails point inwards while their polar hydrophilic heads are outside.
When removing oil stains using soap, the tails surround the nonpolar oil to form water-soluble micelles, allowing the oil to be washed away.

solubility

<h4>Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium</h4>
A solution is a homogeneous mixture&#160;composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution&#8212;solid, liquid, or gas&#8212;is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions) are&#160;closely surrounded by solvent species and interact through attractive forces. This dissolution process is called solvation. When water is the solvent, the process is known as hydration. For the solvation, the solute&#8211;solvent interactions should be stronger than solute&#8211;solute and solvent&#8211;solvent interactions. Precipitation is the opposite of solvation and occurs due to strong solute&#8211;solute interactions.
Solubility is the measure of the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in a given quantity of solvent. Temperature, pressure, and molecular polarity are some of the important factors that affect solubility. Solubility equilibrium is established when the dissolution and precipitation of a solute species occur at equal rates.
<h4>Like Dissolves Like</h4>
To predict if a solute will be soluble in a given solvent, the rule of thumb is &#8220;like dissolves like.&#8221; Polar or ionic solutes dissolve in polar solvents due to resulting ion&#8211;dipole or dipole&#8211;dipole interactions with the solvent molecules. Such interaction will not be possible with a nonpolar solvent. Nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents through intermolecular dispersion forces.
<h4>Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic, and Amphiphilic Compounds</h4>
Water is a polar solvent. Solutes that are soluble in water are called &#8216;hydrophilic&#8217; or &#8216;water-loving&#8217;. For example, when solid KCl is added to water, the positive (hydrogen) end of the polar water molecules is attracted to the negative chloride ions, and the negative (oxygen) ends of water are attracted to the positive potassium ions. The water molecules surround individual K+ and Cl&#8722; ions, reducing the strong forces that bind the ions together and letting them move off into solution as solvated ions.
A solute that is insoluble in water is termed as &#8216;hydrophobic&#8217; or &#8216;water-fearing&#8217;. Such solutes, like oil, are unable to form hydrogen bonds with the surrounding water molecules due to the stronger solute&#8211;solute interactions. As a result, the solute particles cluster together and remain undissolved.
Compounds that have both polar and nonpolar groups are called &#8216;amphipathic&#8217; or &#8216;amphiphilic&#8217;. For example, soaps, which are the salts of fatty acids. They have a hydrophobic tail of nonpolar hydrocarbons and a polar hydrophilic head. The cleaning action of soaps and detergents can be explained in terms of the structures of the molecules involved. The hydrocarbon (nonpolar) end of a soap or detergent molecule dissolves in or is attracted to nonpolar substances, such as oil, grease, or dirt particles. The ionic end is attracted by water (polar). As a result, the soap or detergent molecules become oriented at the interface between the dirt particles and the water, so they act as a kind of bridge between two different types of matter, nonpolar and polar. As a consequence, dirt particles become suspended as colloidal particles and are readily washed away.
This text is adapted from&#160;<a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/11-1-the-dissolution-process">OpenStax Chemistry 2e, Section 11.1: The Dissolution Process</a>,&#160;<a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/11-3-solubility">Section 11.3: Solubility</a>,&#160;and&#160;<a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/11-5-colloids">Section 11.5: Colloids</a>.

Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture&#160;composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the ...

Education

JoVE Core

Organic Chemistry

Unit 1

Covalent Bonding and Structure

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

why some substances dissolve in water

Solution formation depends on how solutes and solvents interact. A solution is a homogeneous mixture made of a solvent, which is the larger part, and a solute, which is the smaller part. The physical state of a solution is usually the same as the solvent. Concentration is often described as dilute for a low amount of solute or concentrated for a high amount of solute.

When a solute dissolves, its particles are surrounded by solvent species. This process is called solvation. If water is the solvent, it is called hydration. For solvation to happen, solute-solvent attractions must be stronger than the attractions within the solute and within the solvent. The opposite process is precipitation, which happens when solute particles are pulled together strongly enough to leave solution.

Solubility is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent. Temperature, pressure, and molecular polarity can all affect solubility. Solubility equilibrium occurs when dissolution and precipitation happen at the same rate. At that point, the amount dissolved stays constant.

A useful rule for predicting solubility is “like dissolves like.” Polar or ionic solutes usually dissolve in polar solvents because of ion-dipole or dipole-dipole attractions. These interactions do not work well with nonpolar solvents. Nonpolar solutes usually dissolve in nonpolar solvents through dispersion forces.

Water is a polar solvent, so substances that dissolve well in water are called hydrophilic, or water-loving. For example, when KCl is added to water, the hydrogen end of water is attracted to chloride ions, and the oxygen end is attracted to potassium ions. Water molecules surround the ions, weaken the forces holding them together, and allow them to move into solution as solvated ions. Substances that do not dissolve in water are called hydrophobic, or water-fearing. Oil is one example. It cannot form hydrogen bonds with water, so the particles cluster together and stay undissolved.

Some compounds contain both polar and nonpolar parts. These are called amphipathic, or amphiphilic. Soaps are an example because they are salts of fatty acids. They have a nonpolar hydrocarbon tail and a polar hydrophilic head. This structure helps soaps and detergents clean because the nonpolar end interacts with oil, grease, or dirt, while the ionic end interacts with water. The molecules line up at the boundary between the dirt and the water. They act like a bridge between polar and nonpolar matter, which helps suspend dirt as colloidal particles so it can be washed away.

Why Some Substances Dissolve in Water

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Arizona Science Standards

High School

Physical Science

HS+C.P1

HS+C.P1U1.4

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9C.3.2.1.2

3 Developing possible explanations of phenomena or designing solutions to engineering problems
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Why Some Substances Dissolve in Water

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