Types of Solutions

 

As we know, a solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances in relative amounts that can be varied continuously up to the limit of solubility. Although the term “solution” is most commonly associated with the liquid state of matter, solutions of gases and solids are also possible. For example, the air is a solution made up primarily of oxygen and nitrogen, with trace amounts of several other gases, whereas brass is a solution made up of copper and zinc. Life stages rely heavily on solutions. Oxygen from the lungs dissolves in blood plasma, combines chemically with haemoglobin in red blood cells, and is released to body tissues. Digestion products are also carried in solution to various parts of the body. Liquids’ ability to dissolve other fluids or solids has a wide range of practical applications. Chemists use differences in solubility to separate and purify materials as well as perform chemical analysis. Most chemical reactions take place in solution and are influenced by the reagents’ solubilities. Chemical manufacturing equipment materials are chosen to withstand the solvent action of their contents. The liquid in a solution is known as the solvent, and the substance added is known as the solute. If both components are liquids, the distinction becomes meaningless; the one with the lower concentration is likely to be referred to as the solute.

Overview

Solutions are a part of everyday life because they are present in every common thing you use in your daily life, such as soda, deodorant that you put on, sugar, salt, and so on. A solution is essentially a type of mixture in which two or more substances combine to form a single solution; it is also simple and may or may not have changed their respective properties.

A solute is a material that is present in a lower concentration in the solution and dissolves in the solvent, which is present in a higher concentration than the solute. The last or final state of homogeneous solutions is usually determined by the state of the solvent, though the state of the solute makes no difference in the solution as long as they are soluble in the solvent.

A solution is formed when one material dissolves or combines well with another. We naturally assume that when we think of a solution, it was created by combining solid and liquid components. We discovered that there are empty areas in a liquid where solid particles can easily fit. There are numerous types of solutions.

Types of Solutions

There are various types of solutions that can be classified based on factors such as the difference in solute and solvent, the number of criteria, and so on, as shown below:

(1) Various types of solutions based on water as a solvent:

Aqueous Solution: The solution wherein the homogeneous compound completely dissolves in water, with water acting as a solvent. Sugar/salt in water and carbon dioxide in water are two examples of this type of solution.

Non-Aqueous Solution: These solutions are essentially the inverse of Aqueous solutions in that the solvent available is not water; it could be anything else such as petrol, benzene, ether, and so on. This type of solution includes phenolphthalein in benzene, sulphur in carbon disulphide, and others.

(2) Various types of solutions based on the amount of solute added:

Saturated Solution: A saturated solution is one in which no more solute can be dissolved at that temperature. When no more salt can be dissolved in an aqueous salt solution at that temperature, the solution is said to be saturated. As an outcome, at that temperature, a saturated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in it. A saturated solution clearly contains more solute than an unsaturated solution.

Unsaturated Solution: An unsaturated solution is one where more solute can be dissolved without increasing the temperature. An unsaturated solution contains less solute than the maximum amount that can be dissolved in it at that temperature. If more salt can be dissolved in an aqueous solution of salt without increasing the temperature, the solution is unsaturated.

Supersaturated Solution: Supersaturated solutions are those in which the solute is present in excess and is forcedly dissolved in the solvent by raising the temperature. With the help of the crystallisation process, these excess solute particles are later found in the form of crystals.

(3) Various types of solutions based on the amount of solvent added:

Concentrated Solution: A concentrated solution has a high solute concentration in the given solvent. Some examples include brine solution, orange juice, and dark-coloured tea.

Diluted Solution: A dilute solution is one that contains a small amount of solute and a large amount of solvent. Salt solution and light-coloured tea are two examples.

(4) Various types of solutions based on the amount of solute concentration in two solutions:

Isotonic Solution: Because the solute concentration in both the beaker and the cell is the same, water will move in both directions around the cell.

Hypertonic Solution: Water leaks out of the cell and into the solution in the beaker because the solution in the beaker has a higher solute concentration, causing the cell to plasmolysis/shrink.

Hypotonic Solution: Hypotonic solutions were those that the concentration of solute in a beaker is lower than that in the cell, causing water to move into the cell and cause it to swell and burst.

Solutions are classified based on their ability to conduct electric current; those containing molecules are known as non-conductors, while those containing ions are known as conductors.

Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water and form ions, whereas non-electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water but do not form ions. These ion-forming substances, known as electrolytes, conduct electric current in solutions and are further classified into Strong electrolytes and Weak electrolytes.

Strong Electrolyte: Strong electrolytes are only present in the form of ions, which causes the light bulb on the conductivity apparatus to glow brilliantly (which is used to check the electric current in the solution). A good example of a Strong electrolyte is NaCl.

Weak Electrolyte: Weak electrolytes are solutions that contain only a few ions and cause the light bulb on the conductivity apparatus to glow dimly. Weak acids and bases are excellent examples of weak electrolytes.

Classification of Solution

The matter is divided into three categories: elements, compounds, and mixtures, but solutions are only classified as mixtures. Mixtures are classified into two types based on the nature of their components: homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures. In general, a homogeneous mixture is one that contains components of any state and exhibits the same properties throughout any given sample. While heterogeneous mixtures are simply those that do not have a single composition.

A cup of coffee, perfume, salt, or sugar in water, for example, are homogeneous solutions, whereas heterogeneous solutions include a solution of oil and water, a solution of sand and water, a solution of chalk powder and water, and so on. Substances that have the same homogeneous phase in all properties are said to be completely miscible in each other, whereas substances that are insoluble in each other are said to be immiscible. A miscible example is ethanol and water, and an immiscible example is an oil and water.

Homogenous solutions

A homogeneous solution is one in which the composition is consistent throughout. As because the dissolved salt is evenly distributed throughout the saltwater sample, the saltwater described above is homogeneous. As because they are both uniforms, it is common to confuse a homogeneous mixture with a pure substance. The disparity is that the composition of the substance is always the same. The amount of salt in the saltwater varies from sample to sample. As the dissolved material is present in the same amount throughout the solution, all solutions are considered homogeneous.

An important feature of mixtures is that they can be separated into their constituents. Because each component of the mixture has not reacted with another component of the mixture, the identities of the various materials remain unchanged.

Heterogeneous solutions

In general, a heterogeneous mixture is one in which the composition varies throughout the mixture. Vegetable soup is an example. Each spoonful of soup will contain varying amounts of the soup’s various vegetables and other components.

A phase is any portion of a sample with consistent composition and properties. It can be said that the pure substance or a homogeneous mixture consists of a single phase. We can say that a heterogeneous mixture is one that contains two or more phases. Whenever oil and water are combined, they do not mix evenly and instead separate into two distinct layers and each is referred to as a phase.

In fact, oil and water don’t really mix, but instead, separate into two distinct layers known as phases. Because the oil phase is less dense than the water phase, it floats on top of the water.

FAQ’s

What kind of solution is formed when two liquids do not mix?

When two liquids do not mix, an immiscible solution is formed. We can say that immiscible liquids are those in which two liquids do not dissolve into each other and form separate layers.

What is an example of solutions in daily life?

Once sugar is dissolved in brewed tea or coffee, the beverage transforms into a solution.

Why are solutions important to living things?

Numerous substances are transported as water solutions throughout living things. Substances that have been dissolved can move more easily within and between cells.