2. TYPES OF SOLUTION
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
The term “solution” is used in chemistry to describe a system in
which one or more substances are homogenously mixed or
dissolved in another substance.
A solution has two components, a solute and a solvent.
The solute is the component that is dissolved, or usually the least
abundant component in the solution.
The solvent is the dissolving agent, or the most abundant
component in the solution.
3. From the three states of matter – solid, liquid and gas – it is
possible to have nine different types of solution. Of these, the
most common solutions are solids dissolved in liquids, liquids
dissolved in other liquids, gases dissolved in liquids, and gases
dissolved in other gases.
In a liquid solution, Water can dissolve more solutes than any
other liquid, so it is called the Universal Solvent.
4. Examples of Solution
Liquid in liquid – (red wine-ethyl alcohol in water)
Solid in solid – (bronze medal-tin in copper)
Solid in liquid – (sodium chloride in water)
Gases can easily mix with other gases to make a gaseous
solution because their molecules are far apart. Air is an example
of gaseous solution. The second most abundant gas is oxygen.
5. Types of solutions
Type Solute Solvent Example
Solid Gas
Liquid
Solid
Solid
Solid
Solid
Hydrogen in palladium
Liquid mercury in solid sodium
Bronze (tin in copper)
Liquid Gas
Liquid
Solid
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Hydrochloric acid (HCI gas in water)
Wine (ethyl alcohol in water)
Sodium hydroxide pellets in water
Gas Gas
Liquid
Solid
Gas
Gas
Gas
Air (carbon dioxide in nitrogen)
Moisture-laden air
Naphthalene sublimed in air
