Question

Suppose you dissolved a teaspoon of sugar in a glass of water. Which substance is the solvent? Which substance is the solute?

Short answer

In the given scenario, sugar is the solute as it is the substance being dissolved, and water is the solvent, as it is the substance dissolving the sugar.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the terms solute and solvent

A solute is a substance that is being dissolved in a solvent to create a solution. A solvent is a substance that dissolves the solute, resulting in a solution.

Identify the solute

In the given exercise, sugar is being dissolved. This means the sugar is the solute.

Identify the solvent

The solute (sugar) is being dissolved in a glass of water. This means the water is the solvent. So, in this exercise, the solute is sugar and the solvent is water.

Key concepts

Solute and Solvent

In chemistry, understanding the terms 'solute' and 'solvent' is essential when discussing solutions. The solute is the substance that is dissolved. It is often the smaller component of the mixture. Think of it as the ingredient that "disappears" into the other. Conversely, the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving. It is usually present in a greater amount. Together, the solute and solvent form a homogenous mixture known as a solution. For instance, in our exercise where sugar is added to water, the sugar acts as the solute. It disperses throughout the liquid, and the water serves as the solvent, providing the medium for dissolution.

Dissolution Process

The dissolution process is how a solute is incorporated into a solvent, leading to the formation of a solution. This process can be explained in a few simple steps:

• The solute particles are surrounded by solvent molecules.
• These solvent molecules interact with the solute particles, breaking them apart and distributing them uniformly throughout the solvent.
• The result is a homogeneous solution where the solute is evenly spread.

The rate of dissolution can depend on several variables, including temperature and agitation. Stirring the mixture can speed up dissolution by bringing more solvent particles into contact with the solute. Meanwhile, increasing temperature generally increases the solubility of the solute, as the added heat enhances particle movement, helping the solute disperse more swiftly.

Chemical Mixtures

Chemical mixtures can be classified into homogenous and heterogeneous types. A homogeneous mixture, like a solution, is uniform in composition throughout. This means the solute is evenly distributed within the solvent. In our example of sugar in water, the mixture is homogeneous as you cannot distinguish between the sugar and water once mixed. On the other hand, a heterogeneous mixture consists of components that are not uniform. You can typically see the different parts. Think of a mixture of oil and water, where the two substances stay separate due to differences in density and polarity. The importance of understanding chemical mixtures extends to various scientific realms, helping determine how materials combine at the molecular level and predicting the behavior of complex solutions.