ability to dissolve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to dissolve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the capacity of a substance to break down or mix into a solution, often in scientific or technical contexts. Example: "The ability to dissolve in water is a key property of many salts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In an ideologically divided world, social media's ability to dissolve spin and propaganda becomes relative.

The Guardian - Opinion

Often called the universal solvent, water has the ability to dissolve many elements in significant quantities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But Surround Audience also includes work that testifies to the internet's ability to dissolve isolation, to create community and closeness.

The Guardian

Ms. Tranter said she specifically picked cameramen with "sensitivity and the ability to dissolve quickly into the background".

The New York Times - Arts

A tasteless and odourless liquid at room temperature, it has the important ability to dissolve many other substances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Our national entertainment has an uncanny ability to dissolve just about anything and incorporate it, transformed and repackaged, into the body politic.

The New York Times

The ideal interviewer might be one with that elusive ability to dissolve people's defences and make them blurt out their darkest truths.

The Guardian - Books

The increased compassion of meditators, then, might stem directly from meditation's ability to dissolve the artificial social distinctions — ethnicity, religion, ideology and the like — that divide us.

The New York Times

For all cell membranes that have been studied in the laboratory, permeability increases in parallel with the permeant's ability to dissolve in organic solvents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A World Health Organisation briefing paper warns: "Once TCCD has entered the body it is there to stay due to its uncanny ability to dissolve in fats and to its rock solid chemical stability".

The Guardian

For example, Dr. Sharfstein said, in 2008, McNeil notified the F.D.A. that it had hired an outside contractor to buy samples of Motrin from retailers to determine whether problems with the drug's ability to dissolve warranted a recall.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the "ability to dissolve" in scientific contexts, specify the solvent and solute involved for clarity. For instance, "the ability of water to dissolve salt" is more precise than just "the ability to dissolve".

Common error

Avoid using "ability to dissolve" without specifying what is being dissolved and under what conditions. Saying "this substance has the ability to dissolve" is vague; instead, clarify with "this substance has the ability to dissolve fats in high temperatures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to dissolve" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the capacity of a substance or entity to cause another substance to disperse into it and form a solution. Ludwig AI supports this use across a range of examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to dissolve" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, particularly within scientific and technical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the capacity of a substance to break down another into a solution. While synonyms like "solubility" and "capacity to dissolve" exist, clarity is key: always specify what is being dissolved and under what conditions. This ensures precise and effective communication, avoiding overgeneralization and enhancing the informative value of your writing. The frequent use of "ability to dissolve" in scientific publications, news articles, and encyclopedias, highlights its importance in describing diverse phenomena from chemical reactions to social processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to dissolve

Synonymous; replaces "ability" with "capacity", offering a slightly more formal tone.

solubility

A noun form denoting the extent to which a substance can dissolve.

dissolving power

Emphasizes the strength or effectiveness of the dissolving action.

capability to disintegrate

Broader term; "disintegrate" implies a more complete breakdown than simply dissolving.

potential to resolve

"Resolve" can imply both dissolving a substance and solving a problem.

aptitude to break down

"Break down" is a more general term for decomposition, not specific to dissolving.

power to liquefy

"Liquefy" specifically refers to changing something into a liquid state.

tendency to solubilize

"Tendency" suggests a natural inclination rather than a definite ability, and "solubilize" is a less common synonym for dissolve.

facility to decompose

"Decompose" refers to a broader range of processes by which something breaks down, not necessarily dissolving.

strength to deliquesce

"Deliquesce" refers specifically to a substance dissolving in atmospheric moisture.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to dissolve" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to dissolve" to describe a substance's capacity to break down another substance into a solution. For example: "Water's "ability to dissolve" many substances makes it a universal solvent."

What are some synonyms for "ability to dissolve"?

Alternatives to "ability to dissolve" include "capacity to dissolve", "solubility", or "dissolving power", depending on the context.

Is "ability to dissolve" formal or informal?

"Ability to dissolve" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, but is most commonly used in scientific or technical writing. More informal contexts might use phrases like "can break down".

What affects a substance's "ability to dissolve"?

Factors affecting a substance's "ability to dissolve" include temperature, pressure, the nature of the solvent and solute, and the presence of other substances in the solution.