What type of process is dissolution generally considered to be?

Dissolution is generally considered to be an endothermic process when a solute dissolves in a solvent, particularly in cases when energy is absorbed from the surroundings to break the ionic or molecular bonds in the solute. During dissolution, the solute particles must overcome intermolecular forces that hold them together; this process typically requires the input of energy. Although the overall energy change can vary depending on the specific solute and solvent involved, many common dissolution processes, such as those involving salt in water, absorb heat and result in a temperature decrease of the solution.

The notion that dissolution can be exothermic applies in some cases, particularly with certain salts dissolving in water where more energy is released when forming solute-solvent interactions than is consumed in breaking solute-solute interactions. However, this scenario is less common compared to endothermic dissolutions like ammonium nitrate in water.

Recognizing that dissolution tends to absorb heat energy highlights the predominant nature of endothermic processes in many solute-solvent interactions, making them useful in understanding the temperature changes observed during these processes. This helps in grasping why the process is typically classified as endothermic.