Solutions

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Solutions- is mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent.

solvent: the substance in which a solute dissolves to produce a mixture.

solute: the substance that dissolves in a solvent to produce a mixture.

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Mixtures can have materials, which are not evenly distributed. For instance, if you try to combine coffee and sugar, you cannot actually be sure that the molecules of sugar are evenly distributed in between the molecules of coffee. In a solution, this is not so. Instead, the molecules are evenly distributed. For example, every 1 molecule of coffee would be surrounded by 3 molecules of sugar.

A solution also has a saturation point. When you add a solute to a solvent, it can be dissolved. However, there would be a point where anything you add further would not dissolve anymore. This is called the saturation point. One way of increasing the saturation point is by increasing the temperature of the solution. Therefore, if you want more of the solute to dissolve, you can try boiling your saturated solution.

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Gaseous Solution:The air we breathe in is considered a gaseous solution. The solutes are oxygen, carbon dioxide and the other gases while the solvent is nitrogen, which is present in a greater amount (75%).

Liquid solution: Solids, liquids and gases can be dissolved in a liquid solvent. For instance, oxygen, a gas, can be dissolved in water. In sodas, carbon dioxide is dissolved in the liquid solvent and the solution is called a carbonated beverage. Examples of liquid solutes in liquids solvents include alcoholic drinks and petroleum. In alcoholic drinks, ethanol is the solute while water is the solvent. Solid solutes such as table sugar (sucrose) and table salt (sodium chloride) can dissolve in water to form electrolytes. Electrolytes made of sodium dissolved in water or potassium dissolved in water are present in your body. When you are dehydrated, an imbalance of these electrolytes occur, which is why you need to take oral rehydration salts or you have to stay in the hospital and receive them together with a dextrose solution.

Solid solution:Examples of solid solutions include amalgams (mercury dissolved in gold), steel (carbon and iron), alloys (bronze) and polymers. Usually, what happens is that these materials are combined in their liquefied state then allowed to harden to form solid solutions.