The Dissolving Process
1. Vocabulary
 Dissolving, Dissolution, Solvation – the process in which a solvent breaks apart a
solute to form a solution
 Distribute – to move throughout
2. The steps:
 Kinetic-Molecular Theory states that all particles of matter have some random
motion
 Random motion leads to collisions between solvent and solute particles
 Sometimes the solvent and solute particles will be attracted
- “Like Dissolves Like”
- Polar molecules will dissolve other polar molecules
- Nonpolar molecules will dissolve other nonpolar molecules
 More random motion will distribute the particles evenly over time
 Once all particles are evenly distributed (homogeneous), the mixture is called a
solution
3. Dissolving is a physical change because no new substances are created. The substances
simply spread out and mix together.