Soluble





A substance is soluble if it dissolves in a fluid. The fluid (present in
excess) is called the solvent and the substance dissolved in it is called
the solute which together form a solution. The process of dissolving is
called solvation. A solution that can not hold any more solute is said to be
saturated.

The degree one substance dissolves in another is determined by its
electrostatic attraction for the solvent and also the entropy change that
accompanies the solvation. Some substances are soluble in alcohol which are
not soluble in water.

Solvents are normally characterized as polar or nonpolar. Polar solvents
will dissolve ionic compounds and covalent compounds which ionize, while
nonpolar solvents will dissolve nonpolar covalent compounds. For example,
ordinary table salt, an ionic compund, will dissolve in water, but not in ethanol.

Common solvents used in organic chemistry include acetone, ethanol, water,
and benzene.

A liquid can be immiscible (=not soluble) with other ( i.e. water is
immiscible with oil).