Dissolution
The process by which a solute disperses into a solvent to form a solution.
Unit
kJ/mol
In depth
Dissolution requires solute–solute and solvent–solvent attractions to be overcome and new solute–solvent attractions to be formed. It proceeds when the resulting free energy change is negative, which is often achieved by the large entropy gain of mixing even when the process is endothermic.
Examples in the real world
Sugar crystals disappearing in stirred tea; ammonium nitrate dissolving while noticeably cooling the water.