Submitted by samuelma t3_z8r5za in explainlikeimfive
drafterman t1_iyctbea wrote
Solids dissolve better in hot water because hot water has more space between the molecules to accommodate them. Gasses dissolve worse in hot water for the same reason: the extra space allows the gas to escape.
Aurigae54 t1_iydaczg wrote
Liquids have a fixed volume regardless of temperature, space isn't really the issue. The space between molecules in cold water is pretty much the same as in hot water, what's different is the average speed and energy of the molecules moving around in the water. Gases escape from hot water more quickly because gases don't 'want' to be dissolved in water, so all it takes is a little bit of energy to push them out of the liquid and into the air. Since hot water has more energy in it, collisions with dissolved gases happen more often and with more power, so it's relatively easy for the gas to bubble out of solution
drafterman t1_iydc96g wrote
>Liquids have a fixed volume regardless of temperature
Aurigae54 t1_iydouoo wrote
I was thinking of pressure then, oops, regardless it doesn't change the fact that average kinetic energy of the water molecules is the main driver of solubility
drafterman t1_iydrkh3 wrote
It is also the average kinetic energy of the water molecules that is a main driver of volume as well, so the concepts are not unrelated.
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