The measure of how much solute can dissolve into a solvent is called solubility. Solubility refers to the maximum amount of a solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature and pressure. It is a key concept in chemistry and is often expressed in grams of solute per 100 grams of solvent.
For example, if you add sugar to water, the sugar will dissolve until it reaches its solubility limit. Once this limit is reached, any additional sugar will not dissolve and will remain as solid particles in the solution. The solubility of a substance can vary depending on factors such as temperature, pressure, and the nature of the solute and solvent.
Understanding solubility is important in various applications, including pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and food chemistry. It helps in determining how substances will behave in different conditions and is essential for creating solutions with desired properties.