AFOQT Practice Test

In a liquid solution, which term describes the material being dissolved?

1. Solvent

2. Solute

3. Mixture

4. Compound

The correct answer is: Solute

The term that describes the material being dissolved in a liquid solution is the solute. In a solution, the solute is the substance that is present in a smaller amount and gets dispersed evenly throughout the solvent, which is the substance dissolving the solute. For instance, when table salt (the solute) is added to water (the solvent), the salt dissolves in the water, creating a saline solution. This interaction occurs because the molecules of the solute are separated and surrounded by the molecules of the solvent. Understanding the roles of solute and solvent is crucial in fields like chemistry and biochemistry, where solutions play an essential role in reactions and processes. On the other hand, the solvent refers to the substance that does the dissolving, while a mixture implies a combination of two or more substances that retain their individual properties. A compound is a substance formed when two or more elements chemically combine in fixed proportions, distinct from solutions and their components.