Answer:The substances that usually dissolve solid materials are called solvents.A solvent is the component of a solution that is present in the largest amount and does the dissolving. When a solid material (the solute) dissolves in a liquid (the solvent), the particles of the solid disperse evenly throughout the liquid.Water is a very common and powerful solvent, often called the "universal solvent" because it can dissolve so many different substances. However, there are many other solvents, both organic (like alcohol, acetone, or hexane) and inorganic, each with their own specific dissolving capabilities.