Rubbing alcohol is a solution of 70 percent alcohol and 30 percent water. In the alcohol solution, which is the solute and which is the solvent? Explain.

well, water can be frezzed, and rubbing alcohol cant. Also, rubbing alcohol's density is greater than water. So the alcochol would be the solvent and water would be the solute.

alcohol

In the given solution of rubbing alcohol, the solute is the substance that is dissolved, and the solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved.

In this case, the solute is alcohol, specifically the type of alcohol used in rubbing alcohol, which is typically isopropyl alcohol. The solvent is water.

So, to determine which is the solute and which is the solvent, it is helpful to consider the relative quantities of alcohol and water. Since rubbing alcohol is 70 percent alcohol and 30 percent water, it means that the alcohol is being dissolved in the water. Therefore, alcohol is the solute, and water is the solvent.

To clarify this further, think of the process of preparing rubbing alcohol. By mixing alcohol and water, the alcohol molecules disperse throughout the water, leading to the formation of the solution. The water serves as the medium in which the alcohol molecules are uniformly distributed, resulting in the solvent-solute relationship mentioned above.

In miscible compounds, the term solute and solvent have no specific meaning. Most would call the water the solvent, but some would argue this ad infinitum. There are more important things in chemistry.