How does surface area affect dissolution? - Answers

Surface area significantly influences the rate of dissolution because a larger surface area allows more solute particles to come into contact with the solvent. When a solid solute is broken into smaller pieces or powdered, it exposes more surface area, facilitating faster interaction with the solvent molecules. This increased interaction leads to quicker dissolution because solvent molecules can surround and separate solute particles more efficiently. Consequently, finer particles typically dissolve more rapidly than larger chunks of the same substance.