Solutions

Solutions

Solutions are homogeneous mixtures of two or more than two components

Solvents

Generally, the component that is present in the largest quantity is known as solvent. Solvent determines the physical state in which solution exists.

Solute

One or more components present in the solution other than solvent are called solutes.

Types of solutions

Gaseous solution

If the solvent is a gas, then it is gaseous solution. An example of a gaseous solution is air (oxygen and other gases dissolved in nitrogen).

Liquid solution

A liquid solution is a homogeneous solution that is comprised of a solvent and a solute (there can be multiple solutes in the solvent). The resulting solution is completely liquid, meaning there is no precipitated material throughout the solution. Even though it is liquid in composition, you can have both solids and gases in the solution.

An example would be having a glass of water (H₂O) and adding a little salt (NaCl).

Solid solution

A solid solution is a solid-state solution of one or more solutes in a solvent. Such a multi-component system is considered a solution rather than a compound when the crystal structure of the solvent remains unchanged by addition of the solutes, and when the chemical components remain in a single homogeneous phase.

Type of Solution	Solute	Solvent	Common Examples
Gaseous Solutions	Gas	Gas	Mixture of oxygen and nitrogen gases
	Liquid	Gas	Chloroform mixed with nitrogen gas
	Solid	Gas	Camphor in nitrogen gas
Liquid solutions	Gas	Liquid	Oxygen dissolved in water
	Liquid	Liquid	Ethanol dissolved in water
	Solid	Liquid	Glucose dissolved in water
Solid solution	Gas	Solid	Solution of hydrogen in palladium
	Liquid	Solid	Amalgam of mercury with sodium
	Solid	Solid	Copper dissolved in gold