Solutes and Solvents

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Mixture Noun

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[miks-cher]

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Mixture

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A substance made by combining two or more materials that are not chemically bonded and can be separated by physical means.

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Example: This diagram shows a mixture called a solution, where one substance (the solute) is evenly mixed into another substance (the solvent).

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Heterogeneous Mixture Noun

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[het-er-uh-jee-nee-uhs miks-cher]

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Heterogeneous Mixture

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A mixture with a non-uniform composition, consisting of visibly different substances or phases that can be separated by filtering.

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Example: This diagram shows that when oil and water are mixed (agitated), they form a temporary mixture where oil droplets are visible, which is a heterogeneous mixture.

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Homogeneous Mixture Noun

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[hoh-muh-jee-nee-uhs miks-cher]

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Homogeneous Mixture

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A mixture that has a uniform appearance and composition throughout its volume, also commonly known as a solution.

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Example: This diagram shows a solution where solute particles (pink) are evenly mixed with solvent particles (blue), creating a uniform mixture that appears as one substance.

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Solution Noun

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[suh-loo-shun]

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Solution

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A stable homogeneous mixture formed when one substance, the solute, dissolves completely into another substance, the solvent.

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Example: This image shows that a solution is formed when a substance (the solute, pink cubes) dissolves into another substance (the solvent, blue liquid).

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Solute Noun

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[sol-yoot]

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Solute

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The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, typically the component present in a smaller amount.

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Example: The sugar cube is the solute, a substance that dissolves in the solvent (water) to form a solution.

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Solvent Noun

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[sol-vent]

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Solvent

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The substance that does the dissolving in a solution, typically the component present in the largest amount.

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Example: This diagram shows how a solvent, like the water molecules shown, works by surrounding and separating the particles of a solute, causing it to dissolve.

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Aqueous Solution Noun

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[ey-kwee-uhs suh-loo-shun]

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Aqueous Solution

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A solution in which the solvent is water, containing one or more dissolved substances.

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Example: In an aqueous solution, polar water molecules surround and stabilize a solute ion (like sodium, Na+), causing it to dissolve.

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Solubility Noun

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[sol-yuh-bil-i-tee]

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Solubility

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The maximum ability of a solute to dissolve in a solvent to form a saturated solution at a specific temperature.

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Example: This graph shows how the solubility of different substances changes with temperature. For example, much more sugar dissolves in hot water than in cold water.

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Unsaturated Solution Noun

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[un-sach-uh-rey-tid suh-loo-shun]

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Unsaturated Solution

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A solution containing less than the maximum possible concentration of a dissolved solute at a given temperature.

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Example: This diagram shows that when a small amount of solute (CO2 gas) is added to a solvent (water), it fully dissolves, creating an unsaturated solution.

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Saturated Solution Noun

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[sach-uh-rey-tid suh-loo-shun]

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Saturated Solution

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A solution containing the maximum concentration of a solute dissolved in the solvent at a specific temperature.

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Example: This diagram shows three states of a solution. The middle beaker represents a saturated solution, where the maximum amount of solute (sugar) has dissolved.