Solutions are characterized by their homogeneous nature, meaning the composition is uniform throughout.
The solvent is the substance in greater quantity that dissolves the solute, which is present in lesser quantity.
Solutions can exist in different phases: solid, liquid, and gas.
Concentration terms such as molarity (M) are often used to describe the amount of solute in a given volume of solution.
Factors like temperature and pressure can affect the solubility of substances in a solution.
Review Questions
What distinguishes a solution from other types of mixtures?
How does temperature generally affect the solubility of solids in liquids?
Explain the difference between the terms 'solute' and 'solvent' with an example.
Related terms
Solvent: The component of a solution that is present in the greatest amount and dissolves the solute.
Solute: The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.
Molarity: $$ \text{Molarity (M)} = \frac{\text{moles of solute}}{\text{liters of solution}} $$; it expresses concentration as moles of solute per liter of solution.