Solution

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In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (the solutes) dissolved in another substance (the solvent). A common example would be a solid dissolving into a liquid, like salt or sugar dissolving in water (or even gold into mercury, forming an amalgam); but also gases may dissolve into liquids, like carbon dioxide or oxygen in water, and liquids and gases into themselves.

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The solvent is defined as the substance that exists in a greater quantity than the solute(s) in the solution. If both solute and solvent exist in equal quantities (such as in a 50% ethanol 50% water solution), the substance that is more often used as a solvent is designated a solvent (in this case, water).

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Solvents can be broadly classified into polar and non-polar solvents. Common polar solvents include water and ethanol. Generally polar or ionic compounds will only dissolve in polar solvents. An excellent test for the polarity of a liquid solvent is to rub a plastic rod, to induce static electricity. Then hold this charged rod close to a running stream of the solvent. If the path of the solvent deviates when the rod is held close to it, it is a polar solvent.

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When a solute is dissolved into a solvent, especially polar solvents, a structure forms around it (a process called solvation), which allows the solute-solvent interaction to remain stable.

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When no more of a solute can be dissolved into a solvent, the solution is said to be saturated. However the point at which a solution can become saturated changes significantly with different environmental factors, such as temperature, pressure, and contamination. Raising the solubility (such as by increasing the temperature) to dissolve more solute, and then lowering the solubility causes a solution to become supersaturated.

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In general the greater the temperature of a solvent, the more of a given solute it can dissolve. However, some compounds exhibit reverse solubility, which means that as a solvent gets warmer, less solute can be dissolved. Some surfactants exhibit this behaviour.

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There are several ways to measure the strength of a solution; see concentration for more information.

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There are many types of solutions:

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Examples of solutionsSolute

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GasLiquidSolid

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SolventGasOxygen and other gases in nitrogen (air)Water vapor in air (humidity)The odor of a solid results from molecules of that solid being dissolved in the air

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LiquidCarbon dioxide in water (carbonated water)Ethanol (common alcohol) in water; various hydrocarbons in each other (petroleum)Sucrose (table sugar) in water; sodium chloride (table salt) in water

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SolidHydrogen dissolves rather well in metals; platinum has been studied as a storage mediumWater in activated charcoal; moisture in woodSteel, duralumin, other metal alloys

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Soluble: A substance is soluble in a fluid if it dissolves in the fluid....

Chemistry: Chemistry (in Greek: χημεία) is the science of matter that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with the transformations that they undergo. In the study of matter, chemistry also investigates its interactions with energy and itself (se...

Homogeneous mixture: redirect Homogeneous (chemistry)...

Solution related Images and Photos (experimental)

The Solution	The Solution Babydoll	Criminal Minds Solution Lies Within T-Shirt	Criminal Minds Solution Lies Within Women's T-Shirt
The Peanut Butter Solution	The Peanut Butter Solution 1985	The Peanut Butter Solution 1985	Mad Professor'-Type Attempts Solution to Millennial Date Problem
Facsimile of the Solution to the Problem of the Brachystochrone or Curve of Quickest Descent	Elodea Cells in a Saline Solution	Eat This Not That! 2010 The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution (Book)	Puck Magazine: Brazen Serpent of Political Solution