Solubility is the ability of one substance to fully dissolve in another substance which is often present in a different state of matter. The word soluble comes from the fourteenth century, from the Latin word solvere meaning to dissolve.

The solubility of a substance is the amount of that substance that will dissolve in another substance under specified conditions. When solutions of solids or liquids in liquids are considered, the solubility is given in terms of the weight dissolved in a given weight or volume of the solvent at a specified temperature.

Substances are generally soluble in similar solvents. For example inorganic salts are generally soluble in water but not in organic solvents. Organic compounds are generally soluble in organic solvents but not in water. Organic solvents include such compounds as ethanol and propanone. Organic solvents are commonly encountered in many household items such as glues, paints, aerosols...