07 Solutions Solvents Solutes
07 Solutions Solvents Solutes
07 Solutions Solvents Solutes
D. Crowley, 2007
Solutions, Solvents & Solutes
To understand the terms solution, solute, soluble, insoluble, dissolve
and solvent
Pure or Mixture
Look at the different liquids - are these pure, or are they mixtures? Explain your answer with reference to particles…
So, if lots are things are jumbled up together we have a mixture, e.g. sea water is a mixture of water particles, salt particles, different chemical particles etc…
Look at this ‘pure’ water - what happens when some sugar is added to it?
I now have a mixture of water & sugar; but the sugar seems to have disappeared!
The sugar has not disappeared - instead it has dissolved in the water
We would call the water + sugar a solution
Suspension Solutions
- Each substance keeps properties and They’re mixed together so well you only
can be separated to original form see one thing – it looks pure but it isn’t
Mixtures Solutions
Chex Mix Soda
Raisin Bran Gasoline
Pizza Brass (Zinc/Copper)
Sand Vinegar
They all sound the same!
So when a solute dissolves, such as salt in water, where does it go? Does it
disappear?
The solute does not disappear - its still there! But you cannot see it because
the particles are now mixed up (dissolved)
Look at the particle box below - can you draw a particle box for a solid
which has dissolved (e.g. salt in water)
Salt, added to
the water
Water
Solution - the mixture formed when a substance dissolves in it
Solute - the substance that dissolves
Solvent - the liquid in the solution
Particle box for a solid which has dissolved (e.g. salt in water)
Water
Salt, added to
the water
The number of salt particles and the number of water particles remains
the same - we haven’t lost any salt particles, nor have they got smaller.
They’re just spread out amongst the water particles, which is why we can
no longer see them (it looks as if the salt has disappeared)!
Solution - the mixture formed when a substance dissolves in it
Solute - the substance that dissolves
Solvent - the liquid in the solution
Look at the particle box below - can you draw a particle box for an insoluble
solid in a liquid (e.g. flour in water)
Flour, added
to the water
Water
Solution - the mixture formed when a substance dissolves in it
Solute - the substance that dissolves
Solvent - the liquid in the solution
Water
Flour, added
to the water
Remember - the number of particles and their size stays the same!
However this time we can still see the flour, as the flour particles
remain grouped together (no mixing (dissolving))
How do we know?
A solution is always transparent - even it has a color
If our liquid remains cloudy, then the solute has not completely dissolved
If a substance will not dissolve (insoluble) then it will settle and be obvious