Which statement correctly defines solvent and solute?

Which statement correctly defines solvent and solute?

• A. The solute is the substance that dissolves the solvent.
• B. The solvent is the substance that is dissolved by the solute.
• C. The solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute; the solute is the substance dissolved.
• D. The solvent and solute are always the same substance.

Answer: (C)

In a solution, the substance that does the dissolving is called the solvent, and the substance that is dissolved is the solute. The best statement captures this relationship: the solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute; the solute is the substance dissolved. For example, in a salty solution, water acts as the solvent because it dissolves the salt, which is the solute. The other ideas mix up the roles. Saying the solute dissolves the solvent would reverse what we observe, and saying the solvent is dissolved by the solute is not how dissolution works. It’s also not true that the solvent and solute are always the same substance, since a solution is a mixture of at least two different components.

In a solution, the substance that does the dissolving is called the solvent, and the substance that is dissolved is the solute. The best statement captures this relationship: the solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute; the solute is the substance dissolved. For example, in a salty solution, water acts as the solvent because it dissolves the salt, which is the solute.

The other ideas mix up the roles. Saying the solute dissolves the solvent would reverse what we observe, and saying the solvent is dissolved by the solute is not how dissolution works. It’s also not true that the solvent and solute are always the same substance, since a solution is a mixture of at least two different components.