Unit 3: Solutions

Lesson 3.1
Types of Solutions
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Warm Up 2

Learn about It! 3

Solute, Solvent, and Solution 3
Classi cation of Solutions 4
Types of Solutions Based on the Solvent Phase 4
Types of Solutions Based on Saturation 6
Types of Solutions Based on Concentration 8

Key Points 9

Check Your Understanding 10

Challenge Yourself 11

Photo Credit 12

Bibliography 12
Unit 3: Solutions

Lesson 3.1

Types of Solutions

Introduction
The air you breathe, the wine you drink, and most of the metal used in your phones,
laptops, and utensils are solutions. They are composed of solute particles dissolved in an
appropriate solvent. Solutions appear homogeneous because solute particles are too small
to be seen by naked eyes. Even tap water contains dissolved ions and gases we are not
aware of. What are solutions? How are solutions classified? In this lesson, different types of
solutions will be described.

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Unit 3: Solutions

DepEd Competency
Learning Objectives
Describe the different types of
In this lesson, you should be able to do the
solutions
following: (STEM_GC11PP-IIId-f-110).

● Describe solutions in terms of

their components.
● Classify solutions based on the
phases of its components,
saturation, and concentration.

Warm Up
Mix and Mix! 15 minutes
Solutions are produced when solute particles are dissolved in an appropriate solvent. In this
activity, different types of solutions will be prepared and described.

Materials
● dropper
● salt
● sugar
● water
● styrofoam
● acetone
● medal

Procedure
1. Add a pinch of salt in 5 mL of water. Stir and record your observation in Table 3.1.1.
2. Add a pinch of sugar in 5 mL of water. Stir and record your observation in Table
3.1.1.

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Unit 3: Solutions

3. Add a small amount of styrofoam in acetone. Stir and record your observation in
Table 3.1.1.
4. Observe the medal. Describe its appearance, color, and texture in Table 3.1.1.
5. Complete the table below by identifying the phases of the solute and solvent in each
solution.

Observation Table
Table 3.1.1. Observations on different solutions produced

Phase of the Phase of the

Solution Observation
solute solvent

salt in water

sugar in water

styrofoam in acetone

medal

Guide Questions
1. What happened when you add salt in water? sugar in water? styrofoam in acetone?
How many phases did you observe?
2. Based on your observations, which overall phase does the solution take? How can
you justify this observation?
3. Research on the composition of medals. What are its components? How is this type
of solution different from the others observed in this activity?

Learn about It!

Solute, Solvent, and Solution

A solution is simply a homogeneous mixture of two or more pure substances. It consists of
a solute and a solvent. In a solution made up of two pure substances, regardless of the
states of the pure substances, the more abundant substance is the solvent. The pure

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Unit 3: Solutions

substance present in lesser amounts is the solute. The solvent may also be classified as the
dissolving medium, while the solute is the substance being dissolved. In a solution of coffee
powder and water, the coffee powder is the solute, while water is the solvent.

A solution is composed of a solute and a solvent.

How are solutions classi ed?

Classification of Solutions
Solutions may be classified based on the phase of the solvent, saturation, or
concentration.

Types of Solutions Based on the Solvent Phase

Solutions may be classified based on the phase of the solvent. Since the solvent is of greater
quantity than the solute, the resulting phase of the solution is similar to the solvent. Table
3.1.2 shows some examples of different types of solutions.

Liquid solutions are solutions where the solvent is a liquid. It is the most common type of
solution. It could be a solid-liquid solution, liquid-liquid solution, or a gas-liquid solution.
Seawater is an example of a solid-liquid solution. Salts of calcium and sodium are the solute,
while water is the solvent in seawater.

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Unit 3: Solutions

Solid solutions are solutions where the solvent is solid. It could be a solid-solid solution, a
liquid-solid solution, or a gas-solid solution. Alloys are solid-solid solutions, while amalgams
are liquid-solid solutions. In organic synthesis, gas-solid solutions made up of hydrogen gas
trapped in palladium metal are used in reducing certain functional groups.

Gaseous solutions are solutions where the solvent is a gas. A gaseous solution could be a
gas-gas solution, a liquid-gas solution, or a solid-gas solution. Air is an example of a gaseous
solution. It is composed of several gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and
other gases dissolved in nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas is the solvent since it is the most
abundant element in the atmosphere.

Table 3.1.2. Different types of solutions based on the phase of the solvent

Phase of the
Solute Solvent Examples
resulting solution

solid brine (salt in water)

rubbing alcohol
liquid liquid liquid
(ethanol in water)

gas carbonated drinks

brass (zinc in
solid
copper)

amalgam (mercury
liquid solid solid
in gold)

hydrogen gas in
gas
palladium metal

camphor in
solid
nitrogen gas

gas gas water vapor in the

liquid
air

gas air

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Unit 3: Solutions

Types of Solutions Based on Saturation

Solutions can also be classified based on the amount of solute dissolved in a given amount
of solvent at a specific temperature. The solubility of a solute at a specific temperature must
be considered in determining how much solute can be dissolved in a given solvent.

A solution in which the amount of solute is less than the solute’s solubility at a given volume
and temperature is called an unsaturated solution. For example, 100 mL of water can
dissolve 36.0 grams of NaCl (sodium chloride or table salt) at 25 °C. If 30.0 grams of NaCl are
dissolved in 100 mL of water at 25 °C, then an unsaturated solution is formed.

An unsaturated solution of NaCl in water

A solution in which the amount of solute is equal to the solute’s solubility at a given volume
and temperature is called a saturated solution. It contains the maximum amount of solute
that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent and specific temperature. Adding 40.0
grams of NaCl to 100 mL of water at 25°C produces a saturated solution, dissolving 36.0
grams while leaving the remaining 4.0 grams undissolved.

A saturated solution of NaCl in water

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Unit 3: Solutions

A solution in which the amount of solute greater than the solute’s solubility at a given
volume and temperature is called a supersaturated solution. This is usually done by
dissolving a solute at a higher temperature, and subsequently cooling the solution. This
state is unstable, which by slight agitation causes crystallization. In this process, some of the
solute particles will come out of the solution. Once crystallization occurs, the result is a
supersaturated solution.

Crystallization in a supersaturated solution

Remember
In unsaturated solutions, the amount of solute is less than the
solubility capacity of the solvent. In saturated solutions, the amount
of solute is equal to the solubility capacity of the solvent. In
supersaturated solutions, the amount of solute is greater than the
solubility capacity of the solvent.

How is crystallization different from precipitation?

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Unit 3: Solutions

Types of Solutions Based on Concentration

Solutions can be classified as diluted and concentrated. Solutions are concentrated when
it contains an excessively large amount of solute. The concentrations of solutions are
expressed in units that will be discussed in-depth in the next unit. The most common unit of
concentration is molarity (M). Concentrated solutions have molarities greater than 1 M.
Concentrated sulfuric acid, for example, has a concentration of 18 M, while glacial
(concentrated) acetic acid has a concentration of 17 M.

Highly concentrated solutions produce excessive fumes of their vapor phase. Since the
solution is crowded with solute particles, it is easier for the solute particles to break from
the attraction of one another and be converted to vapor. It is highly advisable to keep highly
concentrated solutions in fume hoods.

Fuming nitric acid

Concentrated solutions are usually prepared as stock solutions where solutions of smaller
concentrations can be prepared through dilution. In dilution, the excess solvent is added to
an aliquot, or a portion of the stock solution, producing a diluted solution of lower
concentration. The desired concentration can be calculated beforehand, and the amount of
solvent to be added and the amount of aliquot to be taken can be adjusted accordingly.

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Unit 3: Solutions

Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● A solution is simply a homogeneous mixture of two or more pure substances. It

consists of a solute and a solvent.
○ The pure substance present in lesser amounts is the solute.
○ The more abundant substance is the solvent.
● Solutions may be classified based on the phase of the solvent, based on
saturation, or based on concentration.
● Liquid solutions are solutions where the solvent is a liquid. Solid solutions are
solutions where the solvent is solid. Gaseous solutions are solutions where the
solvent is a gas.
● A solution in which the amount of solute is less than the solute’s solubility at a given
volume and temperature is called an unsaturated solution.
● A solution in which the amount of solute is equal to the solute’s solubility at a given
volume and temperature is called a saturated solution.
● A solution in which the amount of solute greater than the solute’s solubility at a given
volume and temperature is called a supersaturated solution.
● Solutions can be classified as diluted and concentrated. Solutions are
concentrated when it contains an excessively large amount of solute. A dilute
solution has a lower concentration than the concentrated, stock solution.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 3: Solutions

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify what is asked in each item.

____________________________ 1. It is the component of the solution that occurs in

greater amounts.
____________________________ 2. It is a type of solution based on saturation in which
the amount of solute is less than the solute’s
solubility at a given volume and temperature.
____________________________ 3. It is the most common unit of concentration used to
describe the amount of solute present in aqueous
solutions.
____________________________ 4. It is a term used to describe solid-solid solutions.
____________________________ 5. It is the process of preparing solutions with lower
concentrations compared to the stock.

B. Write true if the statement provided is true. Otherwise, write false.

____________________ 1. 18 M sulfuric acid and 17 M glacial acetic acid are

examples of concentrated solutions.
____________________ 2. A solution in which the amount of solute is equal to the
solute’s solubility at a given volume and temperature is
called a saturated solution.
____________________ 3. A carbonated drink is an example of liquid-liquid
solutions.
____________________ 4. Amalgam is a solution of liquid mercury in gold.
____________________ 5. An aliquot has the same concentration as the stock
solution.

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Unit 3: Solutions

C. Classify the following solutions based on the classification scheme

provided.

____________________________ 1. based on the phase of the solvent: air

____________________________ 2. based on concentration: 0.5 M potassium
permanganate, KMnO4
____________________________ 3. based on the phase of the solvent: rubbing alcohol
____________________________ 4. based on the phase of the solvent: solder
____________________________ 5. based on saturation: 36.0 grams of NaCl in water
(solubility of NaCl in water: 36.0 grams)
____________________________ 6. based on the phase of the solvent: brine
____________________________ 7. based on concentration: 3.0 M nitric acid, HNO3
____________________________ 8. based on the phase of the solvent: hydrogen gas in
palladium
____________________________ 9. based on concentration: an aliquot of 5.0 M sodium
hydroxide, NaOH
____________________________ 10. based on saturation: 10.0 grams of NaCl in water
(solubility of NaCl in water: 36.0 grams)

Challenge Yourself

A. Categorize the type of solution based on the following situations.

1. The solubility of substances A and B (per 100 grams of solvent) in hot and cold water
is provided in the table below.

Substance Hot Cold

A 90 g 6g

B 80 g 20 g

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Unit 3: Solutions

Assess the type of solution based on concentration for the following solutions:
a. 50 g of A in 100 g of hot water
b. 80 g of B in 200 g of cold water
c. 180 g of A and 160 g of B in 200 g of hot water

B. Answer the following questions in one to two sentences.

1. How will you transform an unsaturated solution to a saturated solution?

2. Upon dilution, the concentration of the new solution is lower than the stock
solution, but the number of moles remains the same. How can you justify this
statement?

Photo Credit
Nitric acid fuming by W. Oelen is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography

Chang, Raymond, and Kenneth A. Goldsby. General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 2014.

Handwerker, Mark J. Science Essentials. San Francisco, CA.: Jossey-Bass, 2005.

Hawe, Alan, Dan Davies, Kendra McMahon, Lee Towler, Chris Collier, and Tonie Scott.
Science 5–11: A Guide for Teachers. 2nd ed. New York, NY: David Fulton Publishers,
2009.

Petrucci, Ralph H. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. Toronto, Ont.:
Pearson Canada, 2011.

Silberberg, Martin S. Principles of General Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.

3.1. Types of Solutions 12