Solutions Vocabulary

Key Terms

homogeneous

Uniform in structure or composition throughout.

solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, which may be solids, liquids, gases, or a combination of these.

mixture

A composition of two or more substances that are not chemically combined with each other and are capable of being separated.

solute

A substance dissolved in another substance, usually the component of a solution present in the lesser amount.

solvent

A substance in which another substance is dissolved, forming a solution.

electrolytes

A chemical compound that ionizes when dissolved or molten to produce an electrically conductive medium.

nonelectrolytes

A substance whose molecules in solution do not dissociate to ions and thus do not conduct an electric current.

concentrated

Having a high concentration of the solute.

dilute

Describing a solution that has a relatively low concentration of solute.

solubility

The amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent.

aqueous

Dissolved in water.

saturated

Combined with or containing all the solute that can normally be dissolved at a given temperature.

supersaturated

To cause (a chemical solution) to be more highly concentrated than is normally possible under given conditions of temperature and pressure.

molarity

The molar concentration of a solution, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

molality

The molal concentration of a solute, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per kilograms of solvent.

colligative property

Properties dependent on the number of molecules but not their nature.