Question

The process of dissolving allows chemical reactions to take place more effectively in the body. Explain why this is so.

Answer 1

Think about this logically a chemical reaction is the interaction of two or more compounds. When something is equally dispersed in solution (dissolved) there is more opportunity for this chemical to bump into and react with another one that is in solution, rather than one that is just in solid form.



Reaction vessel 1 shows two compounds X and O, where X and O are dissolved in solution
Reaction vessel 2 shows two compounds X and O, where O is not in solution and X is

Remember atoms or molecules are always in motion (unless they are at absolute zero), you should be able to see though that in reaction vessel 1 X and O have more of an opportunity to bump into each other and react, than in reaction vessel 2 because X only has access to the surface of the solid O to react with so the reaction will take much longer to progress