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The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions

What water can dissolve

Sugar and salt dissolve in water. They spread through the water and cannot be seen. Sand does not dissolve. Oil floats on top.

Water dissolves some things and not others.

The rule

Water dissolves many things, such as sugar and salt. It does not dissolve everything, such as sand or oil. A substance may dissolve in one solvent but not in another.

Does it dissolve in water?
SubstanceIn water
SugarDissolves
SaltDissolves
Baking sodaDissolves
Chalk powderDoes not dissolve
SandDoes not dissolve
OilDoes not dissolve

Grease will not dissolve in water. It does dissolve in kerosene. Oil dissolves in kerosene too. Sugar and salt do not dissolve in kerosene.

Some traditional medicines use oil or ghee as the solvent.

Pick a solvent and a material. Say if it dissolves. Then drop it in.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Three words for one glass
  3. 2 What water can dissolve
  4. 3 How much will go in
  5. 4 Warmth moves the limit
  6. 5 A glass at its limit
  7. 6 How strong is it
  8. 7 Uniform or not
  9. 8 Mass in each cm³
  10. 9 Float or sink?
  11. 10 Checkpoint: density
  12. 11 The big picture
  13. 12 Track quiz

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