How does increasing temperature affect the solubility of most solid solutes in water?

How does increasing temperature affect the solubility of most solid solutes in water?

• A. Decreases
• B. Solubility generally increases with temperature
• C. Fluctuates unpredictably
• D. No change

Answer: (B)

Increasing temperature generally makes solid solutes dissolve more in water. When heat is added, water molecules move faster and interact more effectively with dissolved species. Dissolving a solid often requires breaking its lattice, a process that absorbs heat. Because the dissolution is typically endothermic, supplying heat shifts the balance toward more dissolved solute, so the solubility rises. This is observed for many salts and sugars, though there are exceptions where solubility changes little or even decreases for specific solids.

Increasing temperature generally makes solid solutes dissolve more in water. When heat is added, water molecules move faster and interact more effectively with dissolved species. Dissolving a solid often requires breaking its lattice, a process that absorbs heat. Because the dissolution is typically endothermic, supplying heat shifts the balance toward more dissolved solute, so the solubility rises. This is observed for many salts and sugars, though there are exceptions where solubility changes little or even decreases for specific solids.