Which of the following best describes the solubility of a salt?

• A. The ability of the salt to conduct electricity when dissolved.
• B. The maximum amount of the salt that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature.
• C. The rate at which the salt dissolves in water.
• D. The color change observed when the salt is added to water.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that solubility refers to how much of a substance (solute) can dissolve in a solvent to form a stable solution at a given temperature and pressure.
2. Recognize that solubility is quantitatively expressed as the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a specific amount of solvent, often given in grams per 100 mL of solvent or moles per liter.
3. Note that solubility is different from conductivity, which measures the ability of ions in solution to carry electric current, and from the rate of dissolution, which is how fast the solute dissolves.
4. Also distinguish solubility from physical observations like color change, which do not define how much solute dissolves but rather indicate chemical or physical changes.
5. Therefore, the best description of solubility is the maximum amount of the salt that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature.