How does temperature generally affect solubility?

The correct answer highlights that the solubility of solids in liquids generally increases with temperature. This phenomenon occurs because increasing the temperature provides more kinetic energy to the molecules involved in the dissolution process. As temperature rises, the solvent molecules move more rapidly, allowing them to interact more effectively with the solute particles, which facilitates their separation and incorporation into the solution.

This process can be further understood by considering the endothermic nature of many solid solvation processes, where heat is absorbed to break the intermolecular forces that hold the solute together. When heat is applied, it aids in overcoming these forces, leading to increased solubility.

To provide further clarity, while the solubility of gases typically decreases with increased temperature due to reduced gas molecule interactions with the solvent, and while temperature can impact solubility dynamics in complex ways for different substances, it is generally true that for most solid solutes in liquid solvents, an increase in temperature tends to enhance solubility.