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Overview

Solutions, Solutes, and Solvents

January 15, 2025
1 min read
solution mixture chemistry

What is a Solution?

A Solution is a uniform (homogeneous) mixture of two or more substances.

  • Components:
    1. Solute: The substance that dissolves (e.g., Salt, Sugar).
    2. Solvent: The substance in which the solute dissolves (e.g., Water).
Solute+Solvent→Solution\text{Solute} + \text{Solvent} \rightarrow \text{Solution}

Examples

  1. Salt Water: Salt (Solute) + Water (Solvent).
  2. Air: A gaseous solution where Nitrogen is the solvent (largest quantity) and Oxygen/Argon are solutes.
  3. ORS: Oral Rehydration Solution is a uniform mixture of salt, sugar, and water.
Note

Uniform vs. Non-Uniform:

  • Uniform: Salt in water. Every sip tastes the same.
  • Non-Uniform: Sand in water. Sand settles at the bottom; it is not evenly distributed.

Concentration

  • Dilute Solution: Contains a small amount of solute.
  • Concentrated Solution: Contains a large amount of solute.