Asolution is formed when the solute uniformly disperses throughout (or dissolves in) the solvent. the process can be described by three steps:

1. separation of solvent-solvent particles (aka expanding the solvent),

2.separation of solute-solute particles (aka expanding the solute), and

3. formation of solute-solvent interactions.

classify the steps involved in the formation of a solution as being endothermic or exothermic.

a. step 1 is exothermic, step 2 is exothermic, step 3 is endothermic

b. step 1 is endothermic, step 2 is endothermic, step 3 is exothermic

c. step 1 is endothermic, step 2 is exothermic, step 3 is exothermic

d. step 1 is exothermic, step 2 is endothermic, step 3 is exothermic