Skip to main content
Physics LibreTexts

37.2: Introduction

  • Page ID
    29331
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Solubility is a measure of how well a particular solvent is able to dissolve a particular solute, to break existing chemical bonds.  The solubility of a solute depends on several factors.  If a solute is successfully dissolved in a solvent to form a stable solution, which has the same appearance throughout, then the solute/solvent combination is classified as a homogeneous solution.  If particles of solute remain visible in the solution, then the solute/solvent combination may be classified as a heterogeneous suspension unless the incomplete dissolving is a result of saturation.  Saturation occurs when there is too much solute for the solvent to dissolve.  A heterogeneous suspension and a saturated solution may have the same appearance.  The level of concentration is a ratio of grams of solute to Liters of solvent.

    Concentration:

    \[\text {Concentration} = \dfrac {\text {Grams}}{\text {Liter}} \nonumber \]

    Contributors and Attributions


    37.2: Introduction is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?