Solutions, Mixtures, and Concentration
Mixing substances
Pure substances and mixtures
A pure substance has one main kind of particle or a fixed composition. A mixture contains two or more substances physically combined, not chemically joined.
Solutions
A solution is a mixture with particles evenly distributed throughout. The substance being dissolved is the solute, and the substance doing the dissolving is the solvent.
Solution vocabulary
In salt water, what is the solvent?
Water is the substance that dissolves the salt.
Correct answer: Water
What is a solution?
Solutions are uniform mixtures.
Correct answer: A mixture with particles evenly distributed throughout
Which best describes a mixture?
Mixtures are physically combined and can often be separated by physical methods.
Correct answer: Two or more substances are physically combined
Concentration
A concentrated solution has a lot of solute compared with solvent. A dilute solution has relatively little solute.
Everyday chemistry
Sugar water, air, and salad dressing are examples of mixtures, though they may not all be solutions.