A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, where one substance (the solute) is uniformly distributed within another (the solvent).
Key points about a solution:
- Homogeneous → looks the same throughout, no visible separation.
- Made of two parts:
- Solute → the substance that gets dissolved.
- Solvent → the substance that does the dissolving and is present in a larger amount.
- Can exist in different physical states → solid, liquid, or gas.
- The properties of a solution (like boiling point, freezing point) often differ from those of the pure solvent.
Examples of solutions:
- Solid in liquid: Salt dissolved in water (saltwater).
- Gas in liquid: Carbon dioxide dissolved in water (soda).
- Gas in gas: Oxygen and other gases dissolved in nitrogen (air).
- Solid in solid: Alloys like brass (zinc dissolved in copper).
Simple definition:
A solution is a uniform mixture of a solute and a solvent.