Solutions

About The Solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
whose composition can be varied within certain limits. The
substances making up the solution are called components of
the solution.
The components of a binary solution are generally referred to
as a solute and a solvent.
A solvent is that component of the solution which is present
in large amount by mass than the other components, termed
as solute.(*not always true)
Solutions in water are called aqueous solutions and the
solutions in which water is not the solvent are called non-
aqueous solutions. The solvents in the non aqueous solutions
are usually benzene, ether, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
Different types of Solutions
SOLUTE SOLVENT Common Examples
Gaseous Solutions
Gas Gas Mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases, air.
Liquid Gas Chloroform mixed with nitrogen gas, water
vapour in air (humidity)
Solid Gas Champhor in nitrogen gas, dust of
smoke particles in air.

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Liquid Solutions
Gas Liquid Liquid Oxygen dissolved in water,
CO2 dissolved in water
Liquid Liquid Ethanol dissolved in water
Solid Liquid Sucrose or salt in water.
Solid Solution
Gas Solid Solution of hydrogen in palladium
(phenomenon of adsorption of gases
over metals)
Liquid Solid Mercury with sodium (amalgams)
Solid Solid Copper dissolved in gold (alloys).

Name of Solution Depends Upon Type of Solvent

The basic rule for solubility is ‘like dissolves like’. For example
polar substances like sodium chloride, ethyl alcohol, urea etc are
soluble in polar solvents like water while non-polar substances
like benzene, napthalene, carbon tetrachloride are soluble in
non-polar solvents like n-hexane.

Some Key Points

1. Solvent and solute are the two main components of solution.
2. In a solution, solvent is only one and solute may be one or
more than one.
3. In a solution, amount of solvent may be more or less than
that of solute.
4. Solvent is that which has low boiling point or which has more
vapour pressure.
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Ex. If a solution is prepared by the two compounds A and B and
both are liquids, then find out which is a solvent ?
A B.P. = 800C
B B.P. = 1200C
Sol. In the above, since B.P. of A is lower, so it is the solvent and
B is the solute.

Types of Solutions
On the basis of number of components and concentration,
solutions are of following types :
(i) Binary (ii) Ternary (iii) Tetranary
Binary : In this, we have one solvent and one solute.
Ternary : In this, there is one solvent and two solutes, means total
      three components. Eg. In water, common salt and sugar.
Tetranary : In this, there is one solvent and three solutes means
total four components.
On the basis of concentration
(a) Unsaturated (b) Saturated   (c) Supersaturated
Unsaturated : In this type of solution, more amount of solute may
be dissolved at constant temperature.
Saturated : In this type of solution, after certain amount of
solute, no further amount of solute can be dissolved otherwise
homogeneity is disturbed at constant temperature.
Supersaturated : In case of supersaturated solution, when solute is
dissolved, Homogeneity is disturbed and excess amount of solute
is there. It is also known as a meta stable solution.

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Concentration of the Solution

Concentration of solution is expressed in the following terms:

Percentage : It is of three types :

w w v
w v v

w  weight 
*  
w  weight 
In this, amount of solute is in terms of weight with respect to
the weight of solution assumed to be 100 gm.
w
Example : 10%  
w
10 gm of solute in 100 gm of solution means 90 gm of solvent
w  weight 
*  
v  volume 
In this, amount of solute is in terms of weight with respect to
the volume of solution assumed to be 100 mL.
w
Example : 20%  
v
means, 20 gm of solute in 100 mL of the solution.

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 v  volume 
*  
v  volume 
In this case, amount of solute is in terms of volume with respect
to the solution.
v
Example : 10%  
v
means, 10 litre of solute in 100 L of solution or 10 mL of solute
in 100 mL of solution.

Mole Fraction (X)

It is unit less and unaffected by temperature and is expressed by
‘X’. It is the ratio of the no. of moles of any one component of the
solution to the total number of moles of solution.
n
X=
n+N
n = moles of solute
N = moles of solvent

Ex. If two components A and B are there then,

Note:- In general notation A is always for solvent and B

for solute
nA nB
XA = XB =
n A +n B n A +n B
X +X =1
A B

The sum of mole fraction of all components in a solution

is equal to 1.
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