heat of solution
- noun
- Specialized
- When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, its heat of solution is strongly negative, causing the mixture to cool.
Examples
-
The heat of solution for sodium chloride is slightly endothermic.
-
Chemists often measure the heat of solution to understand solubility and reaction energetics.
-
The heat of solution affects solubility.
-
What is the heat of solution for water?
-
Chemists often measure the heat of solution to study how different substances dissolve in solvents.
-
The heat of solution for sodium chloride is slightly endothermic, which means it absorbs heat from the surroundings.
-
When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the reaction's heat of solution is strongly negative, making the solution feel cold.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase combines 'heat' (energy transfer) with 'solution' (a liquid mixture in which substances are dissolved) via a simple genitive/of relation, so a learner who knows the constituents would infer it refers to the heat involved in making or present in a solution. While the precise technical details (per mole, evolved vs. absorbed) are specialized, the core compositional meaning is directly derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Heat of solution paints a clear picture: when a substance dissolves in a liquid, the heat is either given away or taken in as the solution forms. So, it means how much 'heat' is given away or taken in when something dissolves, which is why the liquid can get warmer or cooler.