water-soluble
/'wɔ:tə,sɔljubl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective: Capable of being dissolved in water. A substance described as water-soluble will mix uniformly with water to form a solution.
Usage
The adjective "water-soluble" is used to describe the physical property of a material. It is typically placed before a noun or used after a linking verb like "is," "are," "was," or "becomes." - It is a technical term common in chemistry, biology, medicine, nutrition, and everyday product descriptions. - The hyphen is essential when the term is used as a single adjective before a noun.
Examples
- Before a noun:
- Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so excess amounts are excreted in urine.
- The package contains water-soluble fertilizer pellets.
- After a linking verb:
- This new dye is completely water-soluble.
- The powder became water-soluble when heated.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Context: In chemistry, solubility is often quantified. A compound may be described as "highly water-soluble" or "sparingly water-soluble" to indicate the degree to which it dissolves.
- Table salt (sodium chloride) is highly water-soluble.
- Opposite Property: The direct antonym is "water-insoluble" or "lipid-soluble" (fat-soluble).
- Unlike water-soluble vitamins, vitamin A is fat-soluble and stored in the body's tissues.
Variants and Related Words
- Solubility (n): The quality of being soluble, especially in water. The degree to which a substance dissolves.
- The solubility of sugar in water increases with temperature.
- Soluble (adj): Able to be dissolved. "Water-soluble" is a more specific form of this general term.
- Is this substance soluble in alcohol?
Synonyms
- Miscible with water (used specifically for liquids that mix in all proportions).
- Dissolvable in water.
Antonyms
- Water-insoluble
- Fat-soluble
- Lipid-soluble
- Immiscible (for liquids that do not mix, like oil and water).
Adjective
- soluble in water