Solutions
In chemistry, a solution refers to a mixture of a solute and a solvent. The solute gets dissolved, while the solvent does the dissolving.
Here are some key concepts terms that you should be familiar with:
- Solute: The substance that is being dissolved in the solution. It can exist in different physical states such as solid, liquid, or gas. Examples of solutes include sugar, salt, and oxygen gas.
- Solvent: The substance that dissolves the solute and is present in a greater quantity in the solution. It is usually a liquid, but it can also be a solid or a gas in certain cases. Water is the most common solvent, but other solvents like ethanol, acetone, and hexane are also frequently used.
- Solution concentration: The concentration of a solution refers to the amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent. It is commonly expressed in terms of mass/volume (e.g., grams per liter) or molar concentration (e.g., moles per liter). Concentration affects the properties of the solution, such as its density, boiling point, and reactivity.
- Solubility: The ability of a solute to dissolve in a particular solvent at a given temperature and pressure. Some substances are highly soluble, meaning they dissolve readily in a solvent, while others have low solubility and only dissolve to a limited extent. Solubility can be influenced by factors like temperature, pressure, and the nature of the solute and solvent.
- Saturation: A saturated solution is one in which the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved in the solvent at a given temperature and pressure. Any additional solute added to a saturated solution will not dissolve and will form a precipitate or remain undissolved.
- Dilution: Dilution involves reducing the concentration of a solution by adding more solvent. This process does not change the amount of solute present but increases the total volume of the solution.
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