Solutions and Solubility - Classifying Solutions

Solution

a homogenous mixture of two or more substances

Solvent

The substance that dissolves another substance and is always present in higher amounts.

Solute

The substance the dissolves in another substance and is always present in lower amounts.

Aqueous

contains water, always translucent or clear

Miscible

Describes substances that are able to combine with each other in any proportion.

Immiscible

Substances that are not able to combine with each other in a solution. Ex. oil and water

Alloy

Solution of metals (Ex. bronze = copper + tin)

Solubility

The maximum of solute that will dissolve in a given quantity of solvent at a specific temperature. Expressed in g/mL

Saturated solution

A solution containing the maximum amount of solute in the presence of a solvent, at a given temperature.

Unsaturated solution

A solution that has the capacity to dissolve more solute (underused)

Supersaturated solution

Unstable solution iin which more solute is dissolved than a saturated solution. (NOTE: a change in temperature could cause this)

Forces of attraction

Forces that dictate how soluble a substance is in another. (Solute to solvent attractions)

Why is water the "universal solvent"?

- Polarity
- O atom has greater electronegativity than H atoms, which
creates a dipole (O atom attracts electrons more strongly
towards itself)
- Hydrogen bonding (type of dipole-dipole attraction that
explains hydrogen's tendency to attract the
electronegative side of polar molecules)

Hydration

The process in which water surrounds a chemical compound.

Do polar or non-polar molecules dissolve in water?

Polar, since dissolving requires dipole-dipole attractions.