Dissolving is best described as …
a. breaking covalent bonds.
b. a mingling of molecules and/or ions.
c. molecules breaking into ions.
d. a change from a solid to a liquid.
e. a separation of molecules into neutral atoms.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is b. a mingling of molecules and/or ions.
Dissolving refers to the process in which a solute (usually a solid) interacts with a solvent (usually a liquid) to form a homogeneous mixture known as a solution. The fundamental idea behind dissolving is that the molecules or ions of the solute mix with the solvent molecules to create an evenly distributed substance at the molecular level.
Explanation:
When a substance dissolves, the molecules or ions of the solute separate and disperse throughout the solvent. This can happen with both ionic compounds and covalent compounds, although the mechanism differs slightly between the two.
- For ionic compounds, like salt (NaCl), the process involves the dissociation of the solute into individual ions (Na⁺ and Cl⁻), which are then surrounded by solvent molecules. In water, for example, the polar water molecules surround the charged ions and prevent them from recombining, thus forming a solution.
- For covalent compounds, like sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆), the molecules do not break into ions but instead separate from each other and spread out throughout the solvent. The intermolecular forces (such as hydrogen bonding or van der Waals forces) between the solute and solvent molecules allow the solute molecules to disperse.
Dissolving does not involve breaking covalent bonds (a) or changing a solid to a liquid (d), though it may involve some changes in the physical state (e.g., a solid dissolving in a liquid). It also does not involve separating molecules into neutral atoms (e) but rather involves the solute’s molecules or ions dispersing into the solvent, forming a uniform solution.
Thus, option b, a mingling of molecules and/or ions, best describes the process of dissolving.