Solutions

When a spoonful of sugar is added to a glass of water and starred, the sugar
disappears. The resulting mixture tastes sweet. The taste is uniform through
out the mixture. In this separate sugar particles cannot be seen either
with naked eye (or) by the most powerful microscope. From this we may
conclude that the crystals of sugar are broken into very small particles and
are distributed components uniformly (or) homogenously through out.
This mixture is called homogenous mixture (or) solutions. The substances
which are used in making solutions are called components.
Solution: Homogenous mixture of two (or) more components whose
composition vary within certain limits known as solution.
Ex: Sugar in water, sodium chloride (common salt) in water alcohol in water.
Binary Solution: A solution containing only two components is called
binary solution.
Ex: Sugar and water, salt and water.
Note:

Solution = solution + solvent

The components present in the solution are named as solute and

solvent.
Solute:

The component which loses its physical state (not always)

(or)
The component present in lesser proportion
(or)
The component which is dissolved
(or)
The component which is disappeared
is called solute.

Solute:

The component present in greater proportion

(or)

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The component that retained its physical solute

(or)
The component that dissolves the other substances
(or)
The component that disperse the other substances
is called solvent.
Ex: When sugar is placed in a beaker of water and stored, the sugar
disappears and a clear liquid is formed. In the above process, sugar lost its
original physical form (solid state) where as water retained the same physical
state (liquid). Hence sugar is called the solute and water is called the
solvent.
Note:
1. A solution is called ternary and quaternary if it is composed of three
and four components respectively.
2. Every solution consists of one solvent and one (or) more solutes.
Eg: In binary solution, there are one solute and one solvent where
as the remaining three components are solutes.
3. In a solution in which different components exist in the same
physical state, the component present in largest proportion is called
solvent and the other components are called solutes.
Eg: (alcohol + water) solution in this solution, both alcohol and water
are in same state.
(i) When say 80ml of alcohol and 20ml of water are mixed, alcohol
is solvent and water is solute.
(ii) When say 80ml of water and 20ml of alcohol are mixed, water is
solvent and alcohol is solute.
Characteristics of a solution:
i. A solution is a homogenous mixture of two (or) more substances.
1. The solute is dispersed as individual molecules or ions size of the
9
solute particle is less than one nanometer 10 m . Therefore, the

solute is a solution cannot be separated by filtration.

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2. The process of solution formation is purely physical change but not

chemical change. The solute and solvent do not lose their identity in
the solution.
3. The solute and solvent can be separated b y the physical process like
crystallization, evaporation, distillation etc.
4. A solution is stable. The solvent and solute show no tendency to
separate.
5. The properties of solution like density, viscosity, vapour pressure,
boiling point depend on relative amount of solute and solvent in it.
6. Variables like pressure, temperature and composition may affect the
properties of the solution.

Note:

Solution = solution + solvent

Types of Solutions:
I Types of Solution (Based on nature of solvent)
(i) Aqueous solution: A solution in which water serves as solvent is called
Aqueous solution.
Eg: Sugar in water.
(ii) Non aqueous solution: A solution in which solvent is water is called
non-aqueous solution.
Eg: Phosphorous in carbon disulphide
Note: If alcohol is solvent, the solution is called alcoholic solution.
If either is solvent, the solution is called ethereal solution.
If liquid ammonia is solvent, the solution is called ammonical
solution.
In amalgams, mercury is one of the components.
II Types of Solution: Based on the physical states of the solvent and
solute, solutions are nine types.
(1) Solid solutions: In these solutions, solvent is solid where as solute may
be a solid (or) liquid (or) gas.
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(a) Solid in solid

Eg: Alloys like brass, bronze, steel

(b) Liquid in solid

Eg: Amalgam

(c) Gas in solid

Eg: Absorption of H2 over pd (occlusion)

(2) Liquid solutions: In these solutions, solvent is liquid where as solute

may be a solid, liquid (or) gas.
(a) Solid in liquid

Eg: Sugar in water

(b) Liquid in liquid

Eg: Alcohol in water

(c) Gas in liquid

Eg: Soda water (CO2 gas in water)

(3) Gaseous solutions: In these solutions, solvent is solid where as solute

may be a solid (or) liquid (or) gas.
(a) Solid in gas

Eg: Iodine in air

(b) Liquid in gas

Eg: Moisture in air (fog, mist)

(c) Gas in gas

Eg: Atmosphere air

Note: Air is solution of several gases like N2, O2, mist gases, CO2, water
vapour etc.
III Types of Solution: Basing on the relative amounts of the dissolved
solute, solutions can be classified into saturated solutions, unsaturated
solutions and super saturated solutions.
Condition: The experiment should be done at temperature.
Experiment:
Step1: Take 100ml of water in a beaker and add a few grams of powder
sodium thiosulphate (commonly called (Hypo).
Result: Hypo dissolves in the water taken.
Step2: Add a few more grams of sodium thiosulphate and shake. It dissolves
again. Continue the process till some of the hypo remains undissolved.
Result: Some amount of hypo remains undissolved and settles at
the bottom of the beaker.
Step3: When the above solution is heated (Temperature rises), the
undissolved hypo slowly dissolves. After is complete, slowly cool the
resultant solution to room temperature without shaking (or) any other
disturbance.
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Result: The solute which is undissolved before heating at room

temperature is now dissolved.
Conclusion: From the above experiment,
(1) In step 1, the solution is able to dissolve some more solute. It is
called unsaturated solution. It contains less amount of solute.
(2) In step 2, the solution is unable to dissolve any amount of
solute. It is called saturated. The required amount of solute
present in the solution.
(3) The solution is made able to dissolve some more solute. It called
super saturated solution. It contains more the required amount
of solute to make a solution saturated.
Definition:
Unsaturated solution:
A solution that can dissolve further amount of the solute at the given
temperature, is called an unsaturated solution.
(or)
A solution in which the amount of dissolved solute is less than that required
for saturation is called an unsaturated solution.
Note: The amount of the solute in an unsaturated is less than its solubility.

Saturated solution:
A solution that can dissolve any more of the solute at the given temperature,
is called a saturated solution.
(or)
A solution containing the maximum amount of dissolved solute at the given
temperature is called a saturated solution.
(or)
A saturated solution is defined as a solution, in which the dissolved
molecules of the solute are in equilibrium with undissolved solute.
Solute
Solute
(Undissolved)

(Dissolved)

Some solute molecules break away from the undissolved solute and pass
into the solution. In turn, an equal number of solute molecules separate out

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from the solution and deposit over the undissolved solute. The system is
said to be in dynamic equilibrium.
Super Saturated solution:

EXERCISE
I. Short answer questions:
1.

Define solution, solute and solvent.

2.

What is homogeneous solution?

3.

What are components of a solution?

4.

What happen when a super saturated solution is shaken?

5.

All the solutions are mixtures but not all mixtures are solutions
explain.

6.

Explain the following giving examples:

a. Saturated solution
b. Un-saturated solution
c. Super saturated solution

7.

Suggest an alternate name for a homogeneous mixture.

8.

Which substance acts as a solvent in a solid solution?

9.

Give an example of solution in which liquid acts as a solute as well as

a solvent?

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