On the basis of the three steps involved in the formation of a solution, what is the biggest difference between dissolving a gas and dissolving a solid?

To form a solution, the solute (gas or solid) has to be dissolved in the solvent (usually a liquid). This process can be broken down into three steps: 1. Separation of solute particles from each other (in the case of a solid) or separating gas molecules from each other (in the case of a gas) 2. Separation of solvent particles to make room for solute particles or gas molecules 3. Interaction of solute particles or gas molecules with the solvent particles, leading to the formation of a solution

When dissolving a solid, there are strong forces between the particles (e.g., ionic or covalent bonds) that need to be overcome in order to separate them. In contrast, gas molecules are widely spaced and in constant motion, with significantly weaker forces between them. Thus, separating gas molecules from each other requires less energy than separating solid particles. The separation of solvent particles is mostly the same for both gas and solid dissolution, as it depends on the nature of the solvent rather than the solute. The interaction of solute particles (solid) or gas molecules (gas) with the solvent particles is also different. When a solid dissolves, the solute particles interact with the solvent particles through different types of intermolecular forces (e.g., hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, or dispersion forces). On the other hand, when a gas dissolves, the gas molecules interact with the solvent particles through relatively weaker forces like dispersion forces.

The biggest difference between dissolving a gas and dissolving a solid is the amount of energy required to separate the solute particles from each other. In the case of a solid, strong forces between the particles (such as ionic or covalent bonds) need to be overcome, requiring a significant amount of energy. In contrast, gas molecules have much weaker forces between them and are already widely spaced, so less energy is needed to separate them before they can interact with the solvent particles.