Solvents

SOLVENTS (simple!)

• A solvent is the thing that does the dissolving.

• Usually the bigger amount in a solution.

• Example: Water in salt water.

SOLUTES

• A solute is the thing being dissolved.

• Usually the smaller amount.

• Example: Salt in salt water.

SOLUTION

• A solution = solute + solvent mixed evenly.

• Looks uniform (same everywhere).

• Example: Sugar dissolved in tea.

SOLUBILITY

• How much solute a solvent can dissolve.

• High solubility = dissolves easily.

• Low solubility = barely dissolves.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT SOLUBILITY

1. Temperature

   • Solids: dissolve more in warm liquids.

   • Gases: dissolve less in warm liquids.

2. Agitation (stirring)

   • Stirring makes things dissolve faster.

3. Surface Area

   • Crushed stuff dissolves faster than big chunks.

4. Polarity (important!)

   • “Like dissolves like.”

     • Polar dissolves polar (water + sugar).

     • Nonpolar dissolves nonpolar (oil + grease).

SATURATION TERMS

• Unsaturated – can dissolve more solute.

• Saturated – can’t dissolve any more (max amount).

• Supersaturated – more than normal dissolved; unstable.

MISCIBILITY

• When two liquids dissolve into each other.

  • Miscible = they mix (water + ethanol).

  • Immiscible = they don’t (oil + water).

ELECTROLYTES

• Solutes that break into ions in water → conduct electricity.

• Example: Salt (NaCl).

Nonelectrolytes = don’t form ions (sugar).