Question

How would you identify the solute and solvent in this solution: table sugar $\left( {{{\text{C}}_{{\text{12}}}}{{\text{H}}_{{\text{22}}}}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{11}}}}} \right)$ in water?

Answer 1

We know that there are two components of a solution namely solute and solvent. Solutes are the particles present in a lesser amount in a solution and solvents are the particles that are present in higher amounts in a solution.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that in a solution, solute is present in less amount than the amount of solvent. Moreover, solute dissolves in solvent. And the solvent does the dissolving.
Here, the given solution is table sugar in water. Here, the water is present in a larger amount than the amount of sugar. Moreover, sugar is dissolved in water. So, the solute is sugar and the solvent is water.

Additional information:
Let’s understand the two types of mixtures. There are two types of mixtures, homogeneous mixture and heterogeneous mixture.
In a homogenous mixture, the composition is uniform throughout the mixture. Solution is a homogeneous mixture. For example, sugar solution, salt solution etc. In a homogeneous mixture, solute is completely dissolved in the solvent.
In a heterogeneous mixture, the composition is not uniform throughout the mixture. Here, the solute is not completely dissolved in a solution. For example, the solution of sand and water is a heterogeneous mixture.

Note: It is to be noted that colloid is not a solution but a mixture. In solution, the size of the solute particles is very small. But in colloids, the size of the particles is larger than the size of the particles of solution. Some examples of colloidal mixture is smoke, cloud, spray etc.