Which of the following will increase the rate at which a solute dissolves? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a
increasing temperature
b
decreasing temperature
c
decreasing surface area
d
stirring
e
increasing surface area

Answer 1

The following options will increase the rate at which a solute dissolves:

• a. increasing temperature: Higher temperatures generally increase the kinetic energy of the molecules, leading to more frequent and effective collisions between solute and solvent particles.
• d. stirring: Stirring helps to distribute the solute particles throughout the solvent, increasing the interaction between solute and solvent and thus speeding up the dissolution process.
• e. increasing surface area: Increasing the surface area of the solute (e.g., by crushing it into smaller pieces) allows more solute particles to be exposed to the solvent, which enhances the dissolution rate.

So the correct answers are: a, d, e.