What Happens When Something Dissolves?
When a solid substance like salt is dissolved into water, it seems to disappear into the liquid. Based on the Law of Conservation of Mass, we know that the dissolved solid did not really disappear: its mass still exists even though you can no longer see the salt crystals. Where did they go? They were broken apart into tiny particles which are much to small to see – even with a microscope! To see a movie showing what happens when salt dissolves in water, check out this site (it may take a few moments to load so be patient). What’s the Difference between “Dissolving” and “Melting”? When a solid dissolves into a liquid, it does not melt since no heat has to be added. It does not change phase, but simply gets broken apart into invisible pieces that are mixed into the liquid. In order to melt a solid, heat must be added to raise its temperature above its melting point, and no other substance is added. Terms to Know Solute: This refers to the substance that is being dissolved (example: salt)
