What is a solvent?
a
The material that is dissolved
b
The material that increases the speed of the dissolution
c
The material that reduces how much can be dissolved
d
The material that is dissolving another material
d
The material that is dissolving another material
d
The material that is dissolving another material
The correct answer is (d) The material that is dissolving another material.
A solvent is a substance that is capable of dissolving another substance, known as a solute, to form a homogeneous solution. When a solute is mixed with a solvent, the solute particles disperse and spread evenly throughout the solvent due to the attractive forces between the solute and solvent particles. This process is known as dissolution.
To identify the solvent in a solution, you need to look for the substance that is doing the dissolving. You can do this by observing the components of the mixture and determining which one is responsible for breaking down another substance or causing it to dissolve.
For example, in a solution of sugar dissolving in water, water is the solvent. This is because water molecules surround and interact with the sugar molecules, causing them to separate and become dispersed throughout the water.
By understanding the concept of dissolution and the role of the solvent, you can easily identify the substance that is responsible for dissolving another material.