Which term best defines the solvent?

Study for the Georgia High School Physical Science Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations included. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term best defines the solvent?

Explanation:
In a solution, the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving—the dissolving medium. It’s typically the component present in the largest amount. For example, in salt dissolved in water, water is the solvent because it surrounds and pulls apart the salt to form the solution. The thing that gets dissolved is the solute. Describing something as a pure element or as a mixture doesn’t define the role of the dissolving medium, so those terms don’t fit as the solvent.

In a solution, the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving—the dissolving medium. It’s typically the component present in the largest amount. For example, in salt dissolved in water, water is the solvent because it surrounds and pulls apart the salt to form the solution. The thing that gets dissolved is the solute. Describing something as a pure element or as a mixture doesn’t define the role of the dissolving medium, so those terms don’t fit as the solvent.

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