Final answer:
The first step in the dissolving process is the separation of solute and solvent species, followed by the process of solvation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the dissolving process is the separation of solute and solvent species. This is an endothermic process where the solute particles break away from each other and the solvent particles separate from each other as well. This is followed by the second step, which is the exothermic process of solvation where the solute particles are surrounded by solvent particles to form a solution.