Water-soluble

Water-soluble refers to the ability of a substance to dissolve in water. This property is crucial in many biological and chemical processes. Water-soluble substances include salts, sugars, and many organic molecules.

Overview

Water solubility is a measure of the amount of chemical substance that can dissolve in water at a specific temperature. The key factor determining a substance's solubility in water is its polarity. Substances that are charged or polar tend to be soluble in water, while nonpolar substances such as oils or fats are not. This is often referred to as the "like dissolves like" principle.

Biological Importance

In biology, water solubility is a critical property for many reasons. For example, water-soluble vitamins are vitamins that can dissolve in water and are carried to the body's tissues but are not stored in the body. They must be taken in daily. Vitamin C and members of the vitamin B complex are water-soluble vitamins.

Chemical Importance

In chemistry, water solubility is a major factor in the development of chemical reactions. The solubility of a substance in water can affect the rate of a reaction, the ease of separation of a chemical from a reaction mixture, and the usefulness of a chemical in an industrial process.

See Also

• Solubility
• Polarity
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B complex

References

Water-soluble Resources
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