Chapter 4- General Properties of Aqueous Solutions

What is a Solution?

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.

What is a Solute?

The substance present in a smaller amount.

What is a Solvent?

The substance is present in a larger amount.

Does a solution always have to be a Solid?

No, a solution can be gaseous, solid, or a liquid.

What is an Aqueous Solution?

A solution in which the Solvent is water.

What are the two categories that an aqueous solute dissolves in?

Non-electrolyte an electrolyte.

What is an Electrolyte?

A substance that, when dissolved in water, results in a solution that can conduct electricity.

What is a Non-Electrolyte?

A substance, when dissolved in water, does not conduct electricity.

Is pure water a good conductor of electricity?

No, it is a bad conductor; however, tap water does because it contains many dissolved ions.

What is a characteristic of a strong electrolyte?

It will be 100% dissociated into Ions in a solution.

What is a Polar Solvent?

a liquid with molecules that have an uneven distribution of electrical charge, creating distinct positive and negative poles.

What is the hydration process?

A process in which an ion or a molecule is surrounded by water molecules arranged in a specific manner

What does hydration help with?

It helps to stabilize ions in a solution and prevents cations from combining with anions

Are Acids and bases also electrolytes?

Yes

What is a reversible reaction?

A reaction that can occur in both directions.

What is chemical equilibrium?

the state in a reversible chemical reaction where the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction, resulting in no net change in the concentrations of reactants and products over time.

What is a weak acid?

a substance that only partially dissociates into its ions when dissolved in water.

What is a Strong Acid?

completely dissociates into hydrogen ions (H⁺) and its conjugate base when dissolved in water, resulting in a high concentration of H⁺ ions and a very low pH.