Solvent

Related Topics:
Solution - Soluble

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A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution. The most common solvent in everyday life is water. The term organic solvent refers to most other solvents that are organic compounds and contain carbon atoms. Solvents usually have a low boiling point and evaporate easily or can be removed by distillation, thereby leaving the dissolved substance behind. Solvents should therefore not react chemically with the dissolved compounds — they have to be inert. Solvents can also be used to extract soluble compounds from a mixture, the most common example is the brewing of coffee or tea with hot water. Solvents are usually clear and colorless liquids and most of them have a characteristic smell. The concentration of a solution is the amount of compound that is dissolved in a certain volume of solvent. The solubility is the maximal amount of compound that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature.

Related Topics:
Solute - Solution - Water - Organic compound - Carbon - Boiling point - Distillation - React chemically - Inert - Extract - Soluble - Coffee - Tea - Concentration - Temperature

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Common uses for organic solvents are in dry cleaning (e.g. tetrachloroethylene), as paint thinners (e.g. toluene, turpentine), as nail polish removers and glue solvents (acetone, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate), in spot removers (e.g. hexane, petrol ether), in detergents (citrus terpenes), in perfumes (ethanol), and in chemical syntheses.

Related Topics:
Dry cleaning - Tetrachloroethylene - Paint thinner - Toluene - Turpentine - Acetone - Methyl acetate - Ethyl acetate - Hexane - Petrol ether - Detergent - Terpene - Perfumes - Ethanol - Chemical syntheses

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