Which term describes the dissolving medium in a solution?

Which term describes the dissolving medium in a solution?

• A. Solute
• B. Solvent
• C. Solution
• D. Solubility

Answer: (B)

The dissolving medium is the solvent—the substance present in the greater amount that does the dissolving. For example, when salt dissolves in water, water is the solvent because it dissolves the salt and forms a uniform mixture called a solution. The salt is the solute—the substance being dissolved. Solubility describes how much of a solute can dissolve in a given solvent under certain conditions, not the medium itself.

The dissolving medium is the solvent—the substance present in the greater amount that does the dissolving. For example, when salt dissolves in water, water is the solvent because it dissolves the salt and forms a uniform mixture called a solution. The salt is the solute—the substance being dissolved. Solubility describes how much of a solute can dissolve in a given solvent under certain conditions, not the medium itself.