A somewhat more detailed answer is that when a material dissolves in a liquid it is overcoming the attraction to molecules of its own kind.
For example, some material in a blockage may not dissolve.
As the material dissolves, it is passed to a wash chamber where any remaining oil is removed.
Not all materials will dissolve in water and for those we use other solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, turpentine or even oils.
A supersaturated solution is one in which the saturation point, at which no more material will dissolve, has been exceeded.
Although the material does not dissolve, the resulting saliva, bitter in taste, is believed to have medicinal qualities to cure cold related coughs.
Although it is claimed to be less damaging to plants, the material dissolves into a slurry, too, and reaches root zones.
And how fast does the organic material dissolve once it's exposed?
Unlike traditional steel or titanium, this material dissolves in organisms at a rate of roughly 1 millimeter per month and is replaced with bone tissue.
Sulfur does not easily form stable long molecule chains known as polymers and most materials don't dissolve in sulfur.