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The types of solutions depend on the dissolution of the solute in the solvent. A solution can be defined as a homogeneous mixture containing two components, Solute and Solvent. For instance, salt and sugar are the primary examples of a solution.
- A solute can be defined as a substance found in smaller amounts. It usually dissolves in the solvent.
- A solvent is a substance found in larger amounts. It is also called the “dissolving medium.”
The combination of Solute and solvent to form a solution is considered a physical process, not a chemical one. The solvent state helps to determine the final state of the homogeneous solution. However, the state of the solute doesn’t make a difference in the solution at least as long as it is soluble in the solvent. After a solution has been formed, the solute cannot be separated from the solution by means of a process called Filtration.
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Key Terms: Solutions, Solubility, Colligative Properties, Solute, Solvent, Homogeneous Solutions, Heterogeneous Solutions, Electrolyte, Mixtures
What is a Solution?
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A solution is a mixture that can be formed by mixing up the two main components. They are:
- Solute
- Solvent
Solubility: Solute and Solvent
Solute
Solute is the substance that gets dissolved in the solvent. Assuming that there is an unsaturated solution, the concentration of the solute is generally lower than that of the concentration of the given solvent.
Solvent
Solvent is a substance that dissolves the solute in it. Solvents are components in the solution found in the largest amount. It helps determine the physicochemical form of a given substance, such as whether it solid, liquid or gas. Solvents are typically but not necessarily liquids. Since they can also be gases or solids. For example – If you add sugar to a glass of milk, we get a solution. In this solution, the solute is sugar and the solvent is milk.
Solutions Video Lecture
Characteristics of Solutions
Some of the essential characteristics of solutions are:
- Solvents are in major proportion as opposed to solutes, which is why the amount of solute is lesser in quantity than solvents.
- Solute and solvent are present in any state of matter, i.e. solid, liquid or gas.
- Some examples of solid and gaseous solutions are alloys and air respectively.
Types of Solution
Formation of SolutionSolute and Solvent combine with one another to form a solution, which is a physical process and not a chemical one. Solute and solvent can be reversed back via separation methods in a chemically unchanged form. It can be further demonstrated via the following example of solid Zinc nitrate dissolving in water in order to form an aqueous solution of Zinc nitrate. ⇒ Zn(NO3)2(s) + H2O(l) Zn2+ (aq) + 2NO3- (aq) As per the above reaction, the following can be observed:
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Types of Solutions
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Solutions can be classified on various basis. Let us have a look at them.
On the basis of the dissolving capacity of the solvent, the types of solutions can be classified as:
Supersaturated Solution
A solution is known as supersaturated when it contains more than the maximum amount of the solute that can be dissolved in the solvent at a given temperature. The excess solute is separated at the bottom of the solution known as the crystals.
Saturated Solution
A solution is known as saturated when it cannot further dissolve any more solute particles in the solvent at a given temperature.
Unsaturated Solution
A solution is known as an unsaturated solution when the solute particles can still be added to the solvent at a given temperature.
Other Types of Solutions
On the basis of solute added to the solvent in a particular solution, the following can be classified:
- Dilute Solution: A solution is known as a dilute solution when the solute added to the solvent is comparatively less i.e. the quantity of the solvent is large than that of the solute.
- Concentrated Solution: A solution is known as a concentrated solution when the quantity of solute added to the solvent is large i.e. the quantity of the solute is large than that of the solvent.
On the basis of the type of solvent, the following can be classified:
- Aqueous Solution: A solution is known as an aqueous solution when the solvent used is water only.
- Non-aqueous Solution: A solution is known as a non-aqueous solution when the solvent used is other than water.
On the basis of the concentration of the solute in 2 solutions, the following can be classified:
- Hypotonic Solution: A solution is known as hypotonic when the solution outside the cell has less concentration of solutes. The outer solution then tends to diffuse inside the cell causing it to bloat due to the osmotic pressure created.
- Hypertonic Solution: A solution is known as a hypertonic solution if the solution outside of the cell has a higher concentration of solutes. The water from the cell is then caused to flow outside the cell, hence causing the cell to shrink/plasmolyze. [Checkout Important Question on: Hypertonic Solution]
- Isotonic Solution: A solution is known as an isotonic solution when the concentration of solutes in both solutions is exactly the same. In this condition, the water will not flow in any direction, due to the normalizing of the pressure.
The solutions in which the solute gets dissolved in the solvent and then breaks into ions, which help in conducting the electricity are known as electrolytes. This ion – formation depends on the ability of the component to break down into ions. On the basis of the ability to conduct electricity, the following can be classified:
- Strong Electrolyte
- Weak Electrolyte
What is a Mixture?
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Mixtures are usually composed of two or more than two substances.
- Mixtures are not chemically combined or composed.
- However, the compound is known to possess elements bound to one another.
- For example, assume a salt mixture wherein salt is dissolved in water to form a mixture. But, salt is known to be composed of two components, Sodium and Chlorine.
- In the case of Salts, Sodium and Chlorine are bonded to one another with the electrostatic force of attraction to form Sodium Chloride, despite no chemical bond between water and salt in the given mixture.
- Thus, matter can be classified as mixtures, compounds and elements.
- Mixtures, further, can also be divided into Homogenous and Heterogenous mixtures.
Homogenous and Heterogeneous Solutions
Homogeneous Solutions: These are solutions that have uniform composition and properties throughout. Examples include a cup of coffee, perfume, salt or sugar solution in water and more.
Heterogeneous Solutions: These are solutions that have non-uniform composition and properties throughout. Examples include a bowl of milk and cornflakes, water and chalk powder, a solution of water and sand, and more.
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous mixtures
Examples of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Solutions
Some examples of homogeneous and heterogeneous solutions include:
| Solute | Solvent | Solution Formed | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | Liquid | Foam | Soap Bubbles |
| Liquid | Liquid | Emulsion | Egg Yolk or Butter |
| Liquid | Solid | Gel | Gelatin |
| Solid | Solid | Solid Sol | Alloys, Gemstones |
| Solid | Gas | Solid Aerosol | Smoke |
Things to Remember
- A solution is a homogenous mixture of solute and solvent.
- Based on the saturation, a solution can be divided into saturated solution, unsaturated solution and supersaturated solution.
- On the basis of solute concentration, solutions can be divided into dilute solutions and concentrated solutions.
- On the basis of solvent, solutions can be divided into aqueous and non-aqueous solutions.
- On the basis of solute, solutions can be divided as Hypotonic solutions, Hypertonic solutions and Isotonic solutions.
- On the basis of conductivity, solutions can be divided into strong and weak electrolytes.
- On the basis of composition, solutions can be classified into Homogeneous and Heterogeneous solutions.
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Previous Year Questions
- The vapour pressure of due to….[KCET 2012]
- Number of moles of ions which 1 mole of ionic compound produces...[NEET 2009]
- A 5% solution of cane sugar (MW = 342) isisotonic with 1%….[NEET 1998]
- Pure water can be obtained from sea water by...[NEET 2001]
- the boiling point of this solution will be….[NEET 2016]
- A 0.1 molal aqueous solution of a weak acid is...[NEET 2011]
- For an ideal solution, the correct option is….[NEET 2019]
- Find out the molecular weight of the substance...[NEET 1999]
- 1 M and 2.5 litre NaOH solution mixed with another….[NEET 1980]
- an aqueous solution of a protein contains its….[NEET 2011]
- the highest osmotic pressure is exhibited by 0.1 M solution of...[NEET 1994]
- Which one of the following salt will have the same value of vant Hoff's...[NEET 1994]
Sample Questions
Ques: How can we define the term ‘solution’ in a simple way? (1 mark)
Ans: Solution is a homogeneous mixture, which is formed by the composition of 2 components which are – solute and solvent.
Ques: How can we define a true solution? (2 marks)
Ans: A true solution is a homogeneous mixture having the size of the solute particles extremely small (usually <1 nm) and is the most stable solution. The particles of the true solution do not separate/sediment out, keeping them for a long time.
Also, there will be no diffraction of light when passed through the true solution as the solute particles are extremely small.
Ques: Is water a solution? (1 mark)
Ans: No, water itself is not a solution. Water is a solvent that dissolves the solute to form various solutions.
Ques: What are some examples of isotonic solutions? (2 marks)
Ans: Some common examples of isotonic solutions are:
0.9% normal saline, lactated ringers, etc.
Ques: What are strong electrolytes? Give some examples. (2 marks)
Ans: Strong electrolytes are the solutions in which the solute particles can break into ions in a large fraction and conduct a good amount of electricity. Some of the common examples are:
Hydrochloric acid, Sulphuric acid, Potassium Hydroxide.
Ques: When 2 liquids are mixed, what is the solution called? (2 marks)
Ans: When 2 liquids are mixed to form a solution,
- if they mix completely such that one cannot distinguish the 2 parent solutions, then these are called – ‘miscible’
- When the 2 liquids do not mix, the solution is called – ‘immiscible.’
Ques: Vinegar is what type of solution? (2 marks)
Ans: Vinegar, which is known to comprise flavourings, is an aqueous solution containing acetic acid and trace chemicals. Vinegar is known to contain about 5 to 8 percent acetic acid by amount. The fermentation of ethanol or sugars by acetic acid bacteria usually yields acetic acid.
Ques. What is a True Solution? (1 mark)
Ans. A True Solution is known as a homogeneous combination of two or more components that are immersed in a solvent with a particle size less than 10-9 m or 1 nm. An instance of the same is a basic solution of sugar in water.
Ques: What are some examples of non-aqueous solutions? (3 marks)
Ans: Some of the examples of non-aqueous solutions are:
- Vegetable Oil
- Acetone
- Toluene
Ques. Determine the mass of urea (NH2CONH2) needed in making 2.5 kg of 0.25 molal aqueous solution. (3 marks)
moles of urea = 0.25 mole
mass of solvent (NH2CONH2) = 60 g mol-1
Thus, 0.25 urea mole = 0.25 x 60=15g
Hence, we can say,
Mass of solution = 1000 + 15
= 1015g
= 1.015 kg
1.015 kg of urea solution contains 15g of urea
Thus, 2.5 kg of solution contains urea of amount = 15/1.015 x 2.5 = 37 g
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