What term refers to the maximum concentration of a chemical that can dissolve in pure water?

• A. Water solubility
• B. Vapor pressure
• C. Temperature
• D. Henry's constant

Answer: (A)

Solubility in water is the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in pure water at a given temperature. The best term for that limit is water solubility (aqueous solubility). Vapor pressure relates to how readily a substance evaporates into the air, not how much can dissolve. Temperature influences how much dissolves, but it’s a factor, not the term for the maximum dissolved amount. Henry's constant describes how gases dissolve in liquids at equilibrium with a gas phase, which is a specific case rather than the general solubility of a substance in water.