You are SCIcentre / Self Study Resources / Particle Theory - Introduction
Dissolving can be thought of as a particular type of mixing. Mixing materials
can result in a number of outcomes. Sometimes the components have little effect
on each other, remain visible and can be easily separated. In other cases mixing
can result in dramatic irreversible changes to the materials. Dissolving lies
somewhere between the two. In the simplest case it involves mixing two materials
together. The most common examples of dissolving involve a solid and a liquid,
usually water. When a solid dissolves the solid (solute) and the liquid (solvent)
form a very close intimate mixture called a solution. Unless the solid is coloured
it will not be visible and the solution may just look like the starting liquid.
However the presence of the solid can be confirmed by a number of strategies.
In some cases, eg salt or sugar, taste will indicate the presence of the solid.
Alternatively evaporation of the liquid should leave a solid residue.The mixing
is so complete the particles in a solution will pass through most filter paper
so it is not possible to separate the mixture by filtering. The particle model
can provide a simple representation of dissolving in terms of mixing to show
what happens when a solid dissolves, (Fig3). If a solid dissolves on mixing
its particles break apart and form a loose association with the liquid (solvent)
particles. A solid will not dissolve in a liquid if its particles are unable
to form links to the liquid particles. The simple particle model is less helpful
in explaining why there is a limit to the solubility of any material or why
the solubility varies at different temperature. Although we most commonly think
of dissolving solids in water other liquids can act as solvents. Nail varnish
remover is used to dissolve nail varnish and, white spirit to dissolve some
kinds of paint and petrol is a good solvent for grease. Many non water solvents
are not really suitable for use with primary children.
Dissolving is a reversible process and the solute can be recovered from a solution
by evaporation though it will not always be in the exactly the same form as
at the start.
Fig 3 Mixing a solid and a liquid
Dissolving can be difficult for children to understand as they observe, and
often, describe the solid "disappearing". The most common materials
used for dissolving with primary children are sugar and salt. These produce
colourless solutions which can reinforce the idea of a solid disappearing. Use
of a variety of materials, including coloured ones such as coffee to demonstrate
dissolving may help to overcome this.
Children also frequently observe that when sugar or salt is added to water it
"melts" away. So they often confuse the processes of melting and dissolving.
Dissolving requires two materials to be mixed together unlike melting which
is the result of one material being heated.
Website maintainer: R. Jones Updated: November 13, 2000