When we try to dissolve a molecular solid in water the the solution process is understood in terms of the attractive forces between solute particles in the solid, solvent particles in water, and the the attractive forces between the solute and solvent particles. In order for the solid to dissolve in the liquid the solute-solvent forces of attraction must be sufficient to overcome the attractive forces that hold the solid particles together and the water molecules together. The solubility of molecular solids in molecular solvents, water, is again governed by the similarity of the polarity of the each component.

For a particulate level view of the solution process we will look at a model developed by concord.org.