Which process is characterized by the mixing of salt in water?

The mixing of salt in water is best characterized by dissolution. This process involves the breaking apart of salt (sodium chloride) into its individual ions (sodium and chloride) when it interacts with water molecules. During dissolution, water molecules surround the ions, effectively pulling them away from the solid crystal structure of the salt, which allows the ions to disperse uniformly throughout the water.

In this context, dissolution is a crucial process in solutions, as it determines how substances dissolve and how their concentration can affect various properties of the solution. Understanding this process is essential in fields like chemistry, biology, and environmental science, as it plays a role in phenomena such as nutrient transport, chemical reactions, and even water quality.

While the other processes listed have distinct definitions and involve different actions—evaporation relates to the transition of liquid to gas, filtration involves separation based on particle size, and condensation refers to the transition from gas to liquid—they do not sufficiently describe the specific action of salt mixing with water. Thus, dissolution is the most accurate term to describe this phenomenon.