Question

What are some examples of solute?

Answer 1

Hint: A solution has two components, one is the solute and other is the solvent. Solute is present in less quantity and is the substance that is dissolved, while solvent is the medium in which the solute is dissolved; it is present in more quantity and is a large component. Both make up a solution.

Complete answer:
A solution has parts that make up the components of the solution. Solute is that part which is dissolved in a solvent. Solute is a smaller part, while solvent is a much bigger part. The solute dissolved in any solvent, results in the concentration of the solution. Solute is detected in any solution by the fraction of the part with which these components are present. The solute will be present in a lower amount than the solvent. Apart from liquid they are present in solid and gases as well.
Some examples of solute are:
-Salt, when dissolved in water, becomes a solute. Example, seawater is salty due to the presence of salt as solute.
- Sugar, when dissolved in carbon dioxide, becomes soda. Example, soda based carbonated drinks.
- Sodium hydroxide, NaOH dissolved in water, gives aqueous solution containing sodium and hydroxide ions.
- Acetic acid, dissolved in water acts as vinegar. Vinegar is the dilute form of acetic acid, in which acetic acid is present in less amount.
-Oxygen, $C{{O}_{2}}$, etc. dissolved in air. As air is a mixture of gases, these gases act as a solute to the nitrogen that is present in more amounts than oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Hence, some examples of solutes are salt in water, sugar in $C{{O}_{2}}$, NaOH in water, acetic acid in water, and oxygen, $C{{O}_{2}}$ in nitrogen.

Note:
It is not necessary that solute comprises only in a liquid. A solute may be a component of a mixture of a solid into water, a gas into solid, or a liquid into a liquid, or maybe a solid into a gas. The solute distributed homogeneously and therefore the particles cannot be seen with a naked eye. A solute dissolves in a solvent which is as the same nature as of the solute, as like dissolves like.