Question

Which of the following will speed up the dissolving of a solid solute in water?


cool the solution


grind up the solvent


freeze the solution


heat the solution

Answer 1

Heat the solution.

Raising the temperature increases the kinetic energy of water molecules, so they collide with and dissolve the solid faster. Cooling or freezing slows or stops dissolution. ("Grind up the solvent" is incorrect wording — grinding the solute would speed dissolving by increasing surface area.)