This will be a timed project. We have several jars, each with one-half cup cold water. Into each jar, we will put a tablespoon of one solid, such as salt, sugar, bacon fat,
petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), cocoa, flour, baking soda, bouillon cube, powdered drink mix, soap powder, and anything else that comes to mind.

We'll check the clock, do some stirring, and keep track of the amount of time each one takes to dissolve.

Now, after we found out that some things just do not dissolve (name them), we will dispose of that stuff, and try to dissolve the same solids in hot or boiling water, to see how long that takes, and see if some of the things that didn't dissolve in cold water will dissolve in hot water.

Now, we will dispose of that stuff, and try to dissolve some of those solids in other liquids, such as alcohol, milk, cooking oil, vinegar, and dishwashing liquid.

I got a few surprises. Did you? It surprised me that grease would dissolve in alcohol! What surprised you? Make a list.

Water dissolves most things. That is probably why water is called a universal solvent! (Anything that is called "universal" is so called because it can do many things.)