9.1 Solutions

9.1 Solutions

Learning Objective

  1. Understand what causes solutions to form.

Solution is another name for a homogeneous mixture. Chapter 1 “Chemistry, Matter, and Measurement” defined a mixture as a material composed of two or more substances. In a solution, the combination is so intimate that the different substances cannot be differentiated by sight, even with a microscope. Compare, for example, a mixture of salt and pepper and another mixture consisting of salt and water. In the first mixture, we can readily see individual grains of salt and the flecks of pepper. A mixture of salt and pepper is not a solution. However, in the second mixture, no matter how carefully we look, we cannot see two different substances. Salt dissolved in water is a solution.

The major component of a solution, called the solvent, is typically the same phase as the solution itself. Each minor component of a solution, and there may be more than one, is called a solute.  For example, in a solution of salt in water, the solute is salt, and solvent is water.

Solutions come in all phases, and the solvent and the solute do not have to be in the same phase to form a solution. For example, air is a gaseous solution of about 80% nitrogen and about 20% oxygen, with some other gases present in much smaller amounts. An alloy is a solid solution consisting of a metal such as iron with some other metals or nonmetals dissolved in it. Steel, an alloy of iron and carbon and small amounts of other metals, is an example of a solid solution. Table 9.1 “Types of Solutions” lists some common types of solutions, with examples of each.

Table 9.1 Types of Solutions

Solvent Phase Solute Phase Example
gas gas air
liquid gas carbonated beverages
liquid liquid ethanol (C2H5OH) in H2O (alcoholic beverages)
liquid solid saltwater
solid gas H2 gas absorbed by Pd metal
solid liquid Hg(ℓ) in dental fillings
solid solid steel alloys

In order for a solution to form, the intermolecular attractions between solute particles and some of the intermolecular attractions between solvent particles must be broken, with formation of new attractions between solute and solvent molecules.  This is most likely to happen if the solvent and the solute have similar intermolecular interactions. When this is the case, the individual particles of solvent and solute can easily mix so intimately that each particle of solute is surrounded by particles of solute, forming a solution. However, if two substances have very different intermolecular interactions, it would take more energy to break the old attractions than would be gained by the new attractions, so a solution would not form.

This deep understanding of solution formation is often summarized as a simple rule of thumb: like dissolves like. Solvents that are very polar will dissolve solutes that are very polar or even ionic. Solvents that are nonpolar will dissolve nonpolar solutes. Thus water, being polar, is a good solvent for ionic compounds and polar solutes like ethanol (C2H5OH). However, water does not dissolve nonpolar solutes, such as many oils and greases.

We use the word soluble to describe a solute that dissolves in a particular solvent, and the word insoluble for a solute that does not dissolve in a solvent. Thus, we say that sodium chloride is soluble in water but insoluble in hexane (C6H14). If the solute and the solvent are both liquids and soluble in any proportion, we use the word miscible, and the word immiscible if they are not.

Example 1

Water is considered a polar solvent. Which substances should dissolve in water?

  1. methanol (CH3OH)
  2. sodium sulfate (Na2SO4)
  3. octane (C8H18)

Solution

Because water is polar, substances that are polar or ionic will dissolve in it.

  1. Because of the OH group in methanol, we expect its molecules to be polar. Thus, it is expected to be soluble in water. As both water and methanol are liquids, the word miscible can be used in place of soluble.
  2. Sodium sulfate is an ionic compound, so it is expected to be soluble in water.
  3. Like other hydrocarbons, octane is nonpolar,  it is not expected to be soluble in water.

Skill-Building Exercise

  1. water (H2O)

  2. sodium sulfate (Na2SO4)

  3. octane (C8H18)

Concept Review Exercises

  1. What causes a solution to form?

  2. How does the phrase like dissolves like relate to solutions?

Answers

  1. Solutions form because a solute and a solvent have similar intermolecular interactions.

  2. It means that substances with similar intermolecular interactions will dissolve in each other.

Key Takeaway

  • Solutions form because a solute and a solvent experience similar intermolecular interactions.

Exercises

  1. Define solution.

  2. Give several examples of solutions.

  3. What is the difference between a solvent and a solute?

  4. Can a solution have more than one solute in it? Can you give an example?

  5. Does a solution have to be a liquid? Give several examples to support your answer.

  6. Give at least two examples of solutions found in the human body.

  7. Which substances will probably be soluble in water, a very polar solvent?

    1. sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
    2. hexane (C6H14)
    3. isopropyl alcohol [(CH3)2CHOH]
    4. benzene (C6H6)

  8. Which substances will probably be soluble in toluene (C6H5CH3), a nonpolar solvent?

    1. sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
    2. hexane (C6H14)
    3. isopropyl alcohol [(CH3)2CHOH]
    4. benzene (C6H6)

  9. The solubility of alcohols in water varies with the length of carbon chain. For example, ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is soluble in water in any ratio, while only 0.0008 mL of heptanol (CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH) will dissolve in 100 mL of water. Propose an explanation for this behavior.

  10. Dimethyl sulfoxide [(CH3)2SO] is a polar liquid. Based on the information in Exercise 9, which do you think will be more soluble in it—ethanol or heptanol?

Answers

1. a homogeneous mixture

3. A solvent is the majority component of a solution; a solute is the minority component of a solution.

5. A solution does not have to be liquid; air is a gaseous solution, while some alloys are solid solutions (answers will vary).

7. a. probably soluble

b. probably not soluble

c. probably soluble

d. probably not soluble

9. Small alcohol molecules have strong polar intermolecular interactions, so they dissolve in water. In large alcohol molecules, the nonpolar end overwhelms the polar end, so they do not dissolve very well in water.