Asubstance that is being dissolved in a solution is called
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: A substance that is being dissolved in a solution is called a solute.
Explanation
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. The substance that is present in the greater amount and that does the dissolving is called the solvent, while the substance that is being dissolved is known as the solute. When these two components combine, they form a single-phase mixture where the solute is evenly distributed within the solvent.
For example, in a saltwater solution, table salt (sodium chloride) acts as the solute, and water is the solvent. When salt is added to water, it breaks down into its ions and disperses uniformly throughout the water, creating a clear and stable solution. This process is called dissolution, where the solute’s particles become surrounded by solvent molecules and separate from each other.
The solubility of a solute depends on several factors such as temperature, pressure, and the nature of the solute and solvent. For solids and liquids, increasing the temperature generally increases solubility. For gases, solubility typically decreases with rising temperature but increases with higher pressure.
Understanding the role of a solute is important in many areas of science and daily life. In medicine, for instance, drugs are often dissolved in liquids so they can be absorbed more easily by the body. In environmental science, pollutants may act as solutes when they dissolve in water sources, affecting water quality.
It’s also essential to recognize that a solute can be a solid, liquid, or gas. For example, sugar in tea is a solid solute, alcohol in water is a liquid solute, and carbon dioxide in soda is a gaseous solute.
In conclusion, the solute is the substance that gets dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. Its behavior and interaction with the solvent define many characteristics of the resulting mixture.
