What does solubility measure in chemistry?

Solubility measures the amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a liquid under specified conditions. This concept is crucial in chemistry as it defines how well a solute can mix with a solvent to form a solution. The measurement of solubility is typically expressed in terms of concentration, such as grams of solute per liter of solvent, and it is influenced by factors such as temperature and pressure.

Understanding solubility is important in various applications, from pharmaceuticals to environmental science, as it impacts how substances interact in solutions, their bioavailability, and their behavior in different environments. The other choices focus on different concepts: the temperature at which a substance can dissolve pertains to physical properties, the speed at which a substance breaks down relates to kinetics, and the volume of space a substance occupies refers to physical dimensions rather than its ability to dissolve.