Solubility is the ability of a substance (solute) to dissolve in a solvent to form a homogeneous solution at a given temperature and pressure.
Key points about solubility:
- It is usually expressed as the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in 100 g of solvent at a specific temperature and pressure.
- Different solutes have different solubilities in the same solvent.
- Solubility depends on factors such as the nature of solute and solvent, temperature, and pressure.
- Units: Often given in grams per 100 g of solvent or in moles per liter (molar solubility).
Examples:
- The solubility of common salt (NaCl) in water at 25 °C is about 36 g per 100 g of water.
- The solubility of gases (like oxygen in water) is much lower and decreases with temperature.
Simple definition:
Solubility is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given quantity of solvent under specific conditions.