Question

Which of the following will increase the solubility of a solute? (select all that apply)

stirring the solution
heating the solution
decreasing the surface area of the solute
cooling the solution
increasing the surface area of the solute

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The following actions will increase the solubility of a solute:

1. **Stirring the solution** - This helps to distribute the solute more evenly throughout the solvent, facilitating dissolution.

2. **Heating the solution** - For most solid solutes, increasing the temperature generally increases solubility, as it provides more kinetic energy to break solute-solute interactions.

3. **Increasing the surface area of the solute** - By increasing the surface area (such as crushing solids), more solute particles are exposed to the solvent, which can enhance the rate of dissolution.

The other options would not increase solubility:

- **Decreasing the surface area of the solute** - This would hinder dissolution, not enhance it.

- **Cooling the solution** - This typically decreases the solubility of solid solutes, though it may increase the solubility of gases.

So, the correct selections are: **stirring the solution, heating the solution, and increasing the surface area of the solute.**