Solutions are homogeneous mixtures composed of two or more substances. In a solution, the substance present in the greatest amount is typically called the solvent, while the substances present in lesser amounts are called solutes.
Solutions can be classified based on the physical state of the solute and solvent. Here are some common types:
Type of Solution | Solute | Solvent | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Gaseous | Gas | Gas | Air (oxygen in nitrogen) |
Liquid | Gas | Liquid | Carbonated water (CO₂ in water) |
Liquid | Liquid | Liquid | Alcohol in water |
Solid | Liquid | Liquid | Salt in water |
Solid | Solid | Solid | Alloys (e.g., brass) |
Did You Know?
The human body relies on various solutions, such as blood plasma, to function properly.
The concentration of a solution can be expressed in several ways:
The mass percentage of a component is given by: Mass % of component=(Total mass of solutionMass of component)×100
The volume percentage is: Volume % of component=(Total volume of solutionVolume of component)×100
This is commonly used in medicine: Mass/Volume %=(Volume of solutionMass of solute)×100
Used for very dilute solutions: ppm=(Total number of parts of all componentsNumber of parts of the component)×106
The mole fraction of a component is: xi=∑nini
Molarity is defined as: M=Volume of solution in litersMoles of solute
Molality is: m=Mass of solvent in kgMoles of solute
NEET Tip:
Familiarize yourself with all concentration units, as questions in NEET can use any of these.
Solubility is the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a specified amount of solvent at a specific temperature.
The solubility of solids typically increases with temperature.
The solubility of gases decreases with an increase in temperature but increases with pressure, described by Henry's law: p=KHx
Real-life Application:
Scuba divers use Henry's law to avoid decompression sickness by controlling the pressure of gases in their breathing mix.
For a solution of volatile liquids, Raoult's law states:
p1=x1p10
p2=x2p20
ptotal=p1+p2
Colligative properties depend on the number of solute particles, not their identity.
p10Δp1=x2
ΔTb=Kb⋅m
ΔTf=Kf⋅m
Osmotic pressure is given by: Π=CRT
NEET Problem-Solving Strategy:
Practice calculating molar masses using colligative properties.