Properties of Solutions

A collection of flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions related to the properties of solutions.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more pure substances.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The substance in which the solute is dissolved.

Entropy

A thermodynamic quantity that measures the randomness or disorder of a system.

Intermolecular Forces

Forces of attraction between molecules.

Saturated Solution

A solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve at a given temperature.

Unsaturated Solution

A solution that contains less solute than the maximum amount that can dissolve.

Supersaturated Solution

A solution that holds more solute than is normally possible at that temperature.

Solubility

The maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature.

Hydration

The process of water molecules surrounding and interacting with solute ions.

Exothermic Process

A process that releases heat during the formation of a solution.

Endothermic Process

A process that absorbs heat during the formation of a solution.

Henry's Law

The solubility of a gas is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the solution.

Colligative Properties

Properties that depend only on the quantity of solute particles, not their identity.

Vapor Pressure Lowering

The decrease in vapor pressure of a solvent when a nonvolatile solute is added.

Boiling-Point Elevation

The increase in the boiling point of a solvent due to the presence of a solute.

Freezing-Point Depression

The decrease in the freezing point of a solvent caused by the addition of a solute.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure required to stop the flow of solvent through a semipermeable membrane.

Isotonic Solution

A solution with the same osmotic pressure as another solution.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower osmotic pressure compared to another solution.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher osmotic pressure compared to another solution.

Crenation

The shrinking of red blood cells when placed in a hypertonic solution.

Hemolysis

The bursting of red blood cells when placed in a hypotonic solution.

Molarity

The number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

Molality

The number of moles of solute per kilogram of solvent.

Mass Percentage

The mass of the solute divided by the total mass of the solution, multiplied by 100.

Parts per Million (ppm)

A way to express very dilute concentrations of substances in solutions.

Parts per Billion (ppb)

A concentration measure that describes the amount of solute in one billion parts of solution.

Mole Fraction

The ratio of moles of a component to the total moles of all components in the solution.

Tyndall Effect

The scattering of light by colloidal particles.

Colloids

Suspensions of particles larger than individual ions or molecules, but too small to be settled out by gravity.

Brownian Motion

Random motion of particles suspended in a fluid resulting from collision with fast-moving molecules.

Miscible Liquid

Liquids that mix in all proportions.

Immiscible Liquid

Liquids that do not mix with each other.