The Student Room Group

Solubility in water. Physical or chemical change?

If a substance is soluble in water, and water is added to that substance, is it a chemical or a physical change?

I know dissolving is physical?

But is it incorrect to say that being soluble in water is a physical change?
Reply 1
There is no well defined border between physical and chemical changes, so sometimes trying to classify a process as one or another is quite tricky. Solubility is often treated as physical change, even if many processes taking place during dissolution - like dissociation, hydration of ions, creation of hydrogen bonds with water molecules - are chemical in nature.
Reply 2
Original post by Borek
There is no well defined border between physical and chemical changes, so sometimes trying to classify a process as one or another is quite tricky. Solubility is often treated as physical change, even if many processes taking place during dissolution - like dissociation, hydration of ions, creation of hydrogen bonds with water molecules - are chemical in nature.


I would say that solubility is a process which apply to a physical chemistry.
Original post by JockerLW
I would say that solubility is a process which apply to a physical chemistry.


what about sodium carbonate + water?
Reply 4
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
what about sodium carbonate + water?


It is analogically^))))

Solubility is a process which apply to a physical chemistry.

It does not depend on what you dissolve.)))

Dipoles of water interact with substance with the participation many different interactions. All depend on nature of substance and solvent.
(edited 10 years ago)

Quick Reply

Latest