Final answer:
The rate of dissolution of salt is expected to be faster when heat and stirring are applied, because heat increases the kinetic energy of water molecules and stirring prevents saturation around the solute, resulting in faster dispersion of salt ions in the solvent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of dissolution of salt in water is expected to be faster with the application of heat and stirring. Heat increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules, causing them to move faster and collide with the solute (salt) more frequently, facilitating the breaking of bonds in the solid and allowing the ions to disperse into the solution. Stirring agitates the solution and continues to provide fresh solvent molecules at the surface of the solute, which prevents the formation of a saturated layer around the solute and also aids in the dispersion of the solute particles throughout the solvent.
When Jorge added two teaspoons of salt to the water and applied heat while stirring, he likely observed that the salt dissolved more rapidly under these conditions compared to if he did not heat or stir the water. In a beaker without stirring and heat, dissolution occurs more slowly since the layer of water surrounding the salt particles becomes saturated, slowing down further dissolution until the saturated layer is dispersed into the bulk of the solvent. However, agitation and increased temperature work in tandem to prevent this saturation from occurring at the surface of the solute, thus enhancing the dissolution process.