. The dissolving process is exothermic when the energy

A) released in solvation exceeds the energy used in breaking up solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.

B) used in solvation exceeds the energy released in breaking up solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.

C) released in solvation is about the same as the energy used in breaking up solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.

D) used in solvation is less than the energy released in breaking up solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.

E) used in solvation is about the same as the energy released in breaking up solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.

The dissolving process depends on the interaction between solute and solvent (solvation) and the breaking up of the intermolecular bond between solutes. The former is exothermic in nature, while the later is endothermic. Energy is released when solute-solvent particles interact. When this energy exceeds the energy required to break intermolecular bonds between the solute particles, dissolution is exothermic.

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