Humber Admissions Practice Test

What does solubility refer to?

1. The ability to dissolve in another substance

2. The ability to be separated by physical means

3. The ability to change states of matter

4. The ability to react chemically with another substance

The correct answer is: The ability to dissolve in another substance

Solubility refers specifically to the ability of a substance, known as the solute, to dissolve in another substance, typically a liquid called the solvent. This process involves the interaction of the solute's molecules with those of the solvent, allowing for the solute to be evenly distributed and form a solution. This concept is fundamental in various scientific fields, like chemistry and biology, and is crucial for understanding phenomena such as concentration, saturation, and the behavior of solutions. The other options address different concepts: the ability to be separated by physical means relates to mixture separations, which do not require changes to the chemical structure of the components involved; changing states of matter describes physical transformations such as melting or boiling; and the ability to react chemically with another substance pertains to chemical reactions, where new substances are formed. While these are all important concepts in science, they do not define solubility itself.