What do solvents do to solutes? What phases can solutions be made of?

Answer 1

Solvents dissolve solutes. They are usually the substances that there are more of than the solute in a solution, and they are often a different phase (solid/liquid/gas) than the solute---though they don't have to be.

Usually, we think of solvents as fluids, which can be liquids or gases.

So, if you wanted...

  • You could dissolve (solid) salt, #"NaCl"#, in a lot of (liquid) water, #"H"_2"O"#, and water would be the solvent.
  • You could dissolve ammonia gas, #"NH"_3#, in a bunch of n-hexane liquid, #"C"_6"H"_14#, and n-hexane would be the solvent. The n stands for "neo", and emphasizes that it is #"H"_3"C"-("CH"_2)_4-"CH"_3#.
  • You could dissolve (liquid) benzene, #"C"_6"H"_6#, in large quantities of (liquid) toluene, #"C"_6"H"_5"CH"_3#, and toluene would be the solvent.

    Any of these count as solutions. These are respectively a solid-liquid solution, a gas-liquid solution, and a liquid-liquid solution.

Sign up to view the whole answer

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sign up with email
Answer 2

Solvents dissolve solutes by surrounding individual solute particles, breaking intermolecular forces, and dispersing the solute throughout the solvent. Solutions can be made of phases such as solid dissolved in liquid (e.g., sugar dissolved in water), gas dissolved in liquid (e.g., carbon dioxide dissolved in soda), and liquid dissolved in liquid (e.g., ethanol dissolved in water).

Sign up to view the whole answer

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sign up with email
Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

Not the question you need?

Drag image here or click to upload

Or press Ctrl + V to paste
Answer Background
HIX Tutor
Solve ANY homework problem with a smart AI
  • 98% accuracy study help
  • Covers math, physics, chemistry, biology, and more
  • Step-by-step, in-depth guides
  • Readily available 24/7