I know that for a drug to be absorbed it has to be in a solution first, and the process is called dissolution. However, I am a little confused over what dissolution means exactly. Does dissolution mean (a) the breaking down of a huge solid into smaller, fine particles only? or (b) the drug getting ionized first and then it will only dissolve in a solution?

IF dissolution is case (b), how would the acidic drugs (which are supposed to get absorped in their unionized form in the stomach where it is acidic) dissolve in a solution since acidic drugs would not become ionized in acidic environment and thus cannot be absorbed?

Please help.