Chemistry · Ch 2 — Solutions
Types of Solutions
2.2
Types of Solutions
We generally think that a solution is either a solid dissolved in a liquid or a mixture of two liquids. There are other types of solutions as well: the solute and the solvent may each be in any of three states, namely solid, liquid or gas. A solution may thus involve any combination of these three states of its components. This gives rise to nine types of solutions, depending on the states of solute and solvent. These are summarised in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1Types of solutions
| No. | State of solute | State of solvent | Some examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solid | Liquid | Sea water, benzoic acid in benzene, sugar in water |
| 2 | Solid | Solid | Metal alloys such as brass, bronze. |
| 3 | Solid | Gas | Iodine in air |
| 4 | Liquid | Liquid | Gasoline, ethanol in water. |
| 5 | Liquid | Solid | Amalgams of mercury with metals as mercury in silver |
| 6 | Liquid | Gas | Chloroform in nitrogen |
| 7 | Gas | Liquid | Carbonated water ( in water), oxygen in water. |
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