When alcohol dissolves something, where does the dissolved substance go?
In: Chemistry
Looked at in a general sense, why does something dissolve rather than staying as a solid in the bottom of the container of solvent? The answer is because the individual molecules would rather associate with ( * ) molecules of the solvent than with other molecules of the solid substance. So they spread out as separate molecules surrounded by molecules of the solvent, be it alcohol, water or some other liquid.
* in scientific language, be in a lower energy state.
Whatever was dissolved will still be there just broken down into much smaller pieces. The distribution will be much more evenly spread. If there is a chemical reaction it may create a gas that will be released in which case the properties of what was dissolved won’t entirely be in the alcohol.
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