Question

In a solution of ethyl alcohol in water
A. Ethyl alcohol is the solute and water is the solvent
B. water is the solute and ethyl alcohol is the solvent
C. ethyl alcohol act as both solute and solvent
D. All of the above

Answer 1

A solution is formed by dissolving solute components in the solvent. The component which is present in small quantity is the solute and the component which is present in large quantity is the solvent.

Complete step by step answer:
When a compound is dissolved in another compound, a solution is formed. A solution is defined as a homogeneous mixture which contains solute component and solvent component. A solute is the compound which is dissolved in another compound and solvent is the compound in which the solute is dissolved. Both of the compounds combine to form a solution. The component which is present in the large quantity is the solvent and the component which is present in a small quantity is the solute.
In ethyl alcohol solution, two components form the solution, one is ethyl alcohol and other is water. The ethyl alcohol is present in a small quantity therefore, it is a solute and water is present in large quantity therefore it is the solvent. In ethyl alcohol solution, ethyl alcohol is dissolved in water to form the solution.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note:
The homogenous mixture means that the solution has a single phase and the components of solute and solvent are uniformly distributed. One cannot determine in the solution which one is solute and which one is solvent. Example of a solution is sugar dissolve in water.