Question

The factors affecting the solubility of a solid in a liquid is/ are

• A. Only 3
• B. Only 4
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. All of these

Answer 1

The correct option is C

1, 2 and 3

The explanation for the correct option

(C) 1, 2 and 3

• The solubility of a substance is its maximum amount that can be dissolved in a specified amount of solvent at a specified temperature.
• It depends on the nature of the solute, nature of solvent, temperature, and pressure
• Depending upon the solute and solvent, the effect of temperature and pressure varies. as the solubility may increase, decrease, or remain unaffected.

Nature of solute and Nature of solvent

• The solubility of the solids depends upon the nature of solute as well as solvent.
• Some substances like sodium chloride, sugar, etc readily dissolve in water, while organic substances like naphthalene do not dissolve in water.
• It is found that only polar solutes dissolve in the polar solvent and nonpolar solute dissolves in non-polar solvents only.

Temperature

• The effect of temperature depends upon the heat evolved or absorbed during the dissolution.
• If the heat is evolving during dissolution, i.e, exothermic, then with an increase in temperature, the solubility decreases, since the increase in temperature favors backward reaction according to Le Chatelier's principle.
• If the heat is absorbed during dissolution, i.e, endothermic, then with an increase in temperature, the solubility increases, since the increase in temperature favors forward reaction according to Le Chatelier's principle.
• For the solubility of solids in water, an increase in temperature is favored

The explanation for the incorrect option

Pressure

• The pressure has no effect on the solubility of solids in liquids because solids and liquids are highly incompressible in nature

Thus, Option(C) is correct. the Nature of solute, nature of the solvent, and temperature, have an effect on the solubility of solids in liquids.