Final answer:
Solute particles interact with solvent particles during the dissolution process, causing the solvent to pull apart and solvate the solute, making it difficult for them to re-separate into distinct phases.Hence, the correct answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the fill-in-the-blank question is A) Interact with, liquid, separate. In the dissolution process, solute particles interact with solvent particles, pulling them out of the liquid phase. This interaction makes it harder for the solution to separate back into its original phases. At a molecular level, this occurs because the solute-solvent attractions must be strong enough to overcome the solute-solute and solvent-solvent attractions, facilitating the solvation process. The process of forming solutions is governed by the rule like dissolves like and the relative magnitudes of energy changes associated with breaking and forming new intermolecular forces. When the solvent is water, this process is referred to as hydration.