Solubility Curves

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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 present in a lesser amount.

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Example: The image shows a solution in a beaker, with an arrow pointing to the individual particles (solute) that are dissolved in the liquid (solvent).

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Solvent Noun

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[sol-vent]

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Solvent

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The substance that dissolves a solute to form a solution, typically present in a greater amount.

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Example: In a solution, the solvent is the substance present in the larger amount that dissolves the other substance, the solute.

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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 amount of a solute that can dissolve in a specific amount of solvent at a given temperature.

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Example: A solute (pink substance) dissolves in a solvent (blue liquid) to form a solution, where the solute particles are evenly distributed throughout the solvent.

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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 in which the components are uniformly distributed, resulting in a single phase with consistent properties throughout.

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Example: This diagram shows that when a solute (salt) is dissolved in a solvent (water), its particles spread out evenly, creating a solution where the components are not individually visible.

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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 where the components are not evenly distributed and can be visually distinguished from one another.

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Example: This image shows muddy water, a heterogeneous mixture where insoluble mud particles are unevenly mixed in water and settle over time, separating into distinct layers.

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Saturated Solution Noun

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

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Saturated Solution

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A solution containing the maximum amount of dissolved solute possible at a specific temperature, unable to dissolve any more.

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Example: A saturated solution has dissolved the maximum amount of solute possible, as shown by the middle beaker where no more sugar can dissolve.

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Unsaturated Solution Noun

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[uhn-sach-uh-rey-tid suh-loo-shuhn]

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Unsaturated Solution

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A solution that contains less solute than the maximum amount it is capable of dissolving at a given temperature.

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Example: This image shows solute particles being added to a solvent. The left beaker represents an unsaturated solution, where all the added solute dissolves completely.

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Supersaturated Solution Noun

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[soo-per-sach-uh-rey-tid suh-loo-shuhn]

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Supersaturated Solution

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An unstable solution that contains more dissolved solute than is normally possible at a given temperature.

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Example: A supersaturated solution holds more dissolved solute than it normally can, and disturbing it causes the excess solute to rapidly crystallize out of the solution.

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Concentration Noun

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[kon-suhn-trey-shuhn]

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Concentration

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A measure of the amount of solute that is dissolved in a specific quantity of solvent or solution.

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Example: This diagram shows two solutions: one where more solute can dissolve (unsaturated) and one where it cannot (saturated), demonstrating the concept of concentration limits.

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Dilute Adjective

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[dahy-loot]

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Dilute

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Describing a solution that has a relatively small amount of solute dissolved in a large amount of solvent.

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Example: Adding more solvent to a concentrated solution makes it less concentrated, or more dilute, as shown by the solution's volume increasing and color becoming lighter.