Solvation
The surrounding and stabilisation of a solute particle by a shell of solvent molecules.
Unit
kJ/mol
In depth
Solvent molecules orient their partial charges towards the solute and release energy as the shell forms. Solvation shields ions from one another and prevents them recombining, which is what keeps an electrolyte dissociated. When the solvent is water the process is specifically called hydration.
Examples in the real world
Water molecules pointing their oxygen atoms at Na⁺ and their hydrogens at Cl⁻ in salt solution.