Solutions
. Solutions, in chemistry, homogeneous (uniform) mixtures of two or more substances. The substance present in largest quantity usually is called the solvent , and the substance present in smallest quantity is called the solute. Although a solvent can be a gas, liquid, or solid, the most common solvent is liquid water. A solution with water as the solvent is called an aqueous solution. The solute can be a gas, liquid, or solid. Carbonated water is an example of a gas solute (carbon dioxide) dissolved in a liquid solvent (water). Sugar water is an example of a solid solute (sugar) dissolved in a liquid solvent (water). Many metals are soluble in one another, forming solid solutions known as alloys . Mixtures of gases, such as the atmosphere, are sometimes referred to as solutions as well. Solutions are distinct from colloids (see Colloid ) and suspensions in that the particles of the solute are of molecular size and are evenly dispersed among the molecules of the solvent. Solutions appea...