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What is a Solvent (chemistry)?
Grade Level:
Class 7
Space Technology, EVs, Climate Change, Biotechnology, HealthTech, Robotics, Chemistry, Physics
Definition
What is it?
A solvent is a substance that dissolves another substance, called a solute, to form a solution. Think of it as the 'dissolver' in a mixture. It is usually present in a larger amount than the solute.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine you're making nimbu paani (lemonade) at home. You take a glass of water and add some sugar to it. Here, the water is doing the dissolving, so water is the solvent.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say you want to dissolve 2 spoons of salt in a cup of water to make a salt solution.
1. Take a clean glass or cup.
2. Pour 150 ml of water into the cup. This water is our potential solvent.
3. Add 2 spoons of salt to the water. The salt is our solute.
4. Stir the mixture well. You'll observe the salt disappearing into the water.
5. Since the water caused the salt to dissolve and form a uniform mixture, water is the solvent in this example.
Why It Matters
Understanding solvents is crucial in fields like Biotechnology, where scientists use them to extract important chemicals, and in HealthTech for making medicines. Chemists and pharmacists constantly work with different solvents to create new materials and drugs.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Thinking that the solvent is always water. | CORRECTION: While water is a very common solvent (often called the 'universal solvent'), many other liquids like petrol, alcohol, and acetone can also act as solvents for different substances.
MISTAKE: Confusing solvent with solute. | CORRECTION: The solvent is the substance that does the dissolving (usually in larger quantity), while the solute is the substance that gets dissolved (usually in smaller quantity).
MISTAKE: Believing that all substances dissolve in all solvents. | CORRECTION: Solubility is specific. For example, oil does not dissolve in water, but it dissolves in solvents like petrol. 'Like dissolves like' is a common rule.
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: In a solution of sugar and water, which substance is the solvent? | ANSWER: Water
QUESTION: You are trying to remove a permanent marker stain from your clothes using nail polish remover (which contains acetone). In this case, what is the solvent? | ANSWER: Acetone (in the nail polish remover)
QUESTION: If you mix 5 grams of coffee powder with 200 ml of hot water to make coffee, identify the solute and the solvent. | ANSWER: Solute: Coffee powder, Solvent: Hot water
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which of the following is the best definition of a solvent?
A substance that gets dissolved
A substance that dissolves another substance
The final mixture formed after dissolving
A substance that cannot be dissolved
The Correct Answer Is:
B
A solvent is defined as the substance that does the dissolving. Option A describes a solute, Option C describes a solution, and Option D describes an insoluble substance.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
In daily life, solvents are everywhere! When you wash your clothes with detergent and water, the water acts as a solvent to dissolve dirt and stains. Even the paints used by artists or house painters contain solvents to keep them in liquid form and help them spread evenly.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
SOLUTE: The substance that dissolves in a solvent | SOLUTION: A uniform mixture formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent | SOLUBILITY: The maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature | AQUEOUS SOLUTION: A solution where water is the solvent
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Great job understanding solvents! Now that you know what a solvent is, you're ready to learn about 'What is a Solute?' and 'What is a Solution?'. These concepts build on each other to help you understand how mixtures are formed.
