MCAT General Chemistry Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

The correct answer is that solubility of many salts typically increases as temperature increases. This is especially true for most ionic compounds, where an increase in temperature enhances the kinetic energy of the molecules involved, promoting the dissociation of the solid into its constituent ions. As temperature rises, the solvent molecules move more rapidly, enabling them to interact more effectively with the solute particles, which assists in breaking the ionic bonds within the solid salt.

It's important to note, however, that while the general trend supports increased solubility with rising temperature for many salts, there are exceptions. Some salts may exhibit decreased solubility with temperature increases, but these are less common. The overall behavior of most salts aligns with the idea that higher temperatures lead to higher solubility, making this the most reliable answer in a typical context.

The fluctuations based on concentration suggest a variability that isn't the primary factor when discussing the relationship between solubility and temperature. In terms of real-world applications, this principle is often utilized in processes like recrystallization, where heating a solvent can increase the amount of solute that can be dissolved before cooling to form pure crystals. Understanding this temperature-solubility relationship is key for any chemistry-related studies, especially those dealing with sol