Solvation

Solvation is the process where solvent molecules surround and interact with individual solute particles, such as ions or molecules, to form a stable solution. When a substance dissolves, its particles become enveloped by solvent molecules, which stabilize them and keep them dispersed evenly throughout the mixture. For example, when salt dissolves in water, water molecules surround the salt ions, separating and stabilizing them within the solution. This process depends on interactions between the solvent and solute, determining how well a substance dissolves and influences the properties of the resulting solution.