Chapter focus
Describe solutions and how temperature, stirring, particle size, and the nature of substances affect dissolving.
These are original study notes and practice questions prepared for revision. Use your assigned NCERT edition for the complete lesson, diagrams, activities, and exercise wording.
What you will learn
- Explain the main idea: Describe solutions and how temperature, stirring, particle size, and the nature of substances affect dissolving.
- Use the key terms and relationships in the notes below.
- Show your reasoning and check whether an answer fits the question.
Key ideas and notes
- The solute dissolves in the solvent; together they form a solution.
- A saturated solution holds as much solute as it can under stated conditions.
- Dissolving is not the same as melting: a solute disperses in a solvent.
Worked example
In salt water, salt is the solute and water is the solvent.
Quick revision
The solute dissolves in the solvent; together they form a solution.
A saturated solution holds as much solute as it can under stated conditions.
Dissolving is not the same as melting: a solute disperses in a solvent.
Original practice questions
Try each question first. Open the answer to check your reasoning.
Identify the solute in sugar water.
Answer: Sugar.
What does saturated mean?
Answer: No more solute can dissolve at that temperature and amount of solvent.
Will filtering ordinary salt water separate dissolved salt?
Answer: No; dissolved particles pass through ordinary filter paper.
Chapter summary
Describe solutions and how temperature, stirring, particle size, and the nature of substances affect dissolving. The key ideas above give you a short revision path; practise explaining them in your own words and revisit any step you could not justify.