Which factor causes a decrease in the rate of dissolution? decreasing the amount of solute increasing the stirring of the solution decreasing the surface area of the solute increasing the temperature of the solvent

decreasing the surface area of the solute

Explanation: Rate of dissolution of solids in liquids depend on 4 main factors:

1)  Amount of solute: If less of solid is added, the rate of dissolution increases as more interactions with the solvent can take place.

2) Stirring: This process brings fresh solvent particles to come in contact with the solute particles and hence, fast stirring increases the rate of dissolution.

3) Size of the solute particles: If the solute particles is present in smaller size, more it can be dissolved because this action takes place on the surface of particles and decreasing the size increases the surface area of the solute particles. Hence, increasing the dissolution.

4) Temperature: Increasing the temperature means more solute can be dissolved in the given amount of solvent because the energy of the solute particles increases and more it can interact with the solvent particles. The rate of dissolution of solid also increases in liquids.

Decreasing the surface area of the solute causes a decrease in the rate of dissolution. The dissolution depends upon the size of solute particles. Dissolving is a surface aspect so it depends upon the solvent particles striking with the solute particles.

Surface area is directly proportional to the rate of dissolution. It means more surface area then more will be dissolution and vice versa. Therefore, dissolution depends on surface area.