Solutes and Solvents

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What is a solute?

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A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. For example, sugar is a solute when it dissolves in water.

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What is a solvent?

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A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. Water is often called the universal solvent because it can dissolve many substances.

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What is a solution?

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A solution is a homogeneous mixture formed when a solute is dissolved in a solvent.

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What is the difference between a solute and a solvent?

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A solute is the substance that is dissolved, while a solvent is the substance that does the dissolving.

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What is an example of a liquid solution?

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An example of a liquid solution is saltwater, where salt (solute) is dissolved in water (solvent).

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What is distillation?

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Distillation is a method used to separate components of a mixture based on differences in their boiling points.

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What is filtration?

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Filtration is a process that separates solids from liquids or gases using a filter that allows only the fluid to pass through.

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What is decanting?

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Decanting is the process of carefully pouring off a liquid to separate it from solids that have settled at the bottom.

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What is evaporation?

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Evaporation is the process by which liquid turns into vapor, often used to separate a solute from a solvent.

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What is a compound?

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A compound is a substance formed when two or more elements chemically bond together.