Solute Definition

The solute is defined as follows:

The solute is the substance in the solution that gets dissolved. 

The amount of solvent becomes more and greater than the Solute in the Solution. One of the easiest examples for better understanding is Salt and Water, in which salt is easily dissolved in water. Solute has the potential to take various forms like solid, liquid, or gaseous. The solvent or the material that dissolves the Solvent in the solution mostly separates the molecules of the solute and then distributes it evenly.

Types of Solutes

Solutes are classified according to the aspects of physical and Chemical properties. Some of these types of Solutes are discussed below:

• Ionic Solutes: Ionic Solutes are made up of ions that get dissolved into a solvent by dissociating into their constituent ions.
• Molecular Solutes: Molecular Solutes are made up of molecules that get dissolved into a solvent through weak intermolecular forces.
• Acidic and Basic Solutes: These types of solutes are propertied by their ability to donate or accept protons (H⁺ ions). 
• Colloidal Solutes: Colloidal solutes are made up of particles that are bigger than the molecules of the solvent.

Characteristics of Solute

There are various characteristics that a solute in a solution can have, some of those characteristics are as follows:

• A solution is a homogeneous mixture of more than two different substances.
• The particles present in solutes in a solution cannot be seen by the normal naked eye.
• A solution cannot scatter the light. 
• A solute solution is stable.

Examples of Solute

There are many examples of Solute which are in different forms:

• Gaseous Solutes: This includes Solutes like Oxygen and Hydrogen Gas, etc.
• Solid Solutes: This includes Camphor, Sugar, Salt, etc.
• Liquid Solutes: This includes Solutes like Ethanol and Mercury.
• Other than these solutes, anything which gets dissolves in any solvent is an example of a solute.

Solute and solvent are the two components of the solution that are used to form a solution we take, a solute and dissolve it in a solvent to form a solution. Usually, the solid substance that is in less quantity is called the solute and the substance that is in larger quantity is called the solvent. (Generally, solvents are liquid in nature) Water is a universal solvent as it can dissolve various substances. 

In this article, we will learn about Solutes and Solvents and their examples. We will also go through the Similarities between these two terms. Later, we will explore the difference between solute and solvent.