Are the strengths of the interactions between the particles in the solute and between the particles in the solvent before the solute and solvent are combined greater than, less than, or equal to the strengths of the interactions between solute particles and solvent particles after dissolution? Explain.

Less than

Explanation:

The process of dissolution occurs as a kind of "tug of war". On one side are the solute-solute and solvent-solvent interaction forces, while on the other side are the solute-solvent forces.

Only when the solute-solvent forces are strong enough to overcome the pre-mixing forces do they overcome the "tug of war", and thus dissolution occurs.

Thus, it is concluded that the interaction forces between solute particles and solvent particles before they are combined are less than the interaction forces after dissolution.