What is a Solution?

What is a solution? Solutions are a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. It

has homogeneity at the particle level. Usually, people think of it as some liquid with either
a solid or a liquid or a gas dissolved in it. However, this is not entirely true. We can also
have solid solutions like alloys. For example:

 Air: It is a mixture of gas in gas. Air is a homogeneous mixture of a number of

gases. The two main constituents of gases are oxygen (21%) and Nitrogen (78%)

 Alloys: Alloys are homogeneous mixtures of metals. They cannot be separated

into their individual components by physical methods. Irrespective of that, an alloy
is considered as a mixture. It is because an alloy shows the properties of its
constituents and can have variable composition. For example, brass is a mixture of
30% zinc and 70% copper.

Components of a Solution

The substances that make up a homogeneous solution are called components of the
solution. It has basically has two components i.e. a solvent and a solute.

 Solvent: The component of a solution which dissolves the other component in

itself is called solvent. A solvent constitutes the larger component of the solution. For
example, a solution of sugar in water is solid in the liquid. Here, sugar is the solute
and water is the solvent.

 Solute: The component of the solution which dissolves in the solvent is called
solute. The solute is the smaller component of the solution. For example, a solution
of iodine in alcohol known as ‘tincture of iodine’, iodine is the solute. Similarly, in
carbonated drinks (Soda water), carbon dioxide gas is the solute.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOLVENT AND SOLUTION

TYPE SOLVENT SOLUTE EXAMPLE

Gas Nitrogen Oxygen air

Gas / liquid Water Carbon dioxide Soda pop

 Liquid Water Ethylene glycol antifreeze

Solid / liquid Water Salts seawater

Characteristics of Solutions

 It is a homogeneous mixture

 The size of solute particles in the solutions is extremely small. It is less than 1 nm
in diameter.

 The particles of a solution cannot be seen even with a microscope.

 The particles of a solution pass through the filter paper. Thus filtration cannot
separate the solution.

 It is very stable. The particles of solute present in a solution do not separate out on
keeping.

 A true solution does not scatter light (because its particles are very small).

Types of Solutions

1. Saturated Solutions: Saturated solutions are solutions dissolving as much solute as it

is capable of dissolving at a given temperature.

Examples:

 Adding sugar to water until it no longer dissolves creates a saturated

solution.
 Continuing to dissolve salt in water until it will no longer dissolve
creates a saturated solution.
 The Earth's soil is saturated with nitrogen.
 Mixing powdered soap into water until it will not dissolve creates a
saturated solution.
 In beer or sparkling juices there is a saturation of carbon dioxide that
is let off as a gas.
  Coffee powder added to water can create a saturated solution.
 Salt added to vinegar can create a saturated solution when the salt no
longer dissolves.
 Chocolate powder added to milk can create saturation at the point
that no more powder can be added.

2. Unsaturated Solutions: Unsaturated solutions are the ones with a lesser amount of
solute than what we require for saturation. Sometimes, by applying external forces like
heat energy, you can increase the solubility of the solutes in the solutions.

Examples:

 is NaCl in water. When you add a teaspoonful of salt to a glass of water, it

easily dissolves in it.

3. Supersaturated Solutions: Supersaturated solutions contain more solute than

saturated solutions.

Examples:

 Carbonated water is saturated with carbon, hence it gives off carbon

through bubbles. Adding sugar to water until it no longer dissolves creates
a saturated solution. Continuing to dissolve salt in water until it will no
longer dissolve creates a saturated solution.

REPORT BY: MEL