Solutions Vocabulary (Honors Chemistry)

Solution

A homogeneous mixture of 2 or more substances

Solvent

What a solute is dissolved in

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution

Soluble

Capable of being dissolved

Insoluble

Cannot be dissolved in solution

Saturated

A solution that contains the maximum amount of dissolved solute

Unsaturated

A solution that contains less than the amount of solute required for a saturated solution

Supersaturated

A solution that contains more dissolved solute than a saturated solution at the same temperature. No precipitate is present

Suspension

A mixture in which the particles are so large that they settle out of solution unless they are continually stirred

Electrolyte

A substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water

Alloy

A solid/solid solution

Colloid

A mixture that contains intermediate sized particles suspended in solution

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture that does not have a uniform composition

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture with a uniform composition

3 Factors that affect dissolving

Surface area, agitation, and heating