Lesson 3.

Types of Solutions

General Chemistry 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
 Solute, Solvent, and Solution

Solution
● a homogeneous mixture
of two or more pure
substances
● consists of a solute and
a solvent

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 Classification of Solutions

Solutions may be classified based on the:

● phase of the solvent

● saturation
● concentration

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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Liquid Solutions
● solutions where the solvent
is a liquid
● most common type
● solid-liquid solution,
liquid-liquid solution, or
a gas-liquid solution
seawater

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 Types of Solutions Based on Solvent
Phase

Phase of the
Solute Solvent resulting Examples
solution
solid brine (salt in water)
rubbing alcohol
liquid liquid liquid
(ethanol in water)
gas carbonated drinks

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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Solid Solutions
● solutions where the solvent is solid
● solid-solid solution, liquid-solid solution, or a
gas-solid solution
● e.g., H2 gas trapped in palladium metal

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 Types of Solutions Based on Solvent
Phase
Different types of solid solutions and their examples

Phase of the
Solute Solvent resulting Examples
solution
solid brass (zinc in copper)
amalgam (mercury in
liquid solid solid gold)
hydrogen gas in
gas
palladium metal
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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Gaseous Solutions
● solutions where the solvent is gas
● solid-gas solution, liquid-gas solution, or a
gas-gas solution
● e.g., air

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 Types of Solutions Based on Solvent
Phase

Phase of the
Solute Solvent resulting Examples
solution
camphor in nitrogen
solid
gas
liquid gas gas water vapor in the air
gas air

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 Types of Solutions Based on
Saturation
● classifying solutions based on the amount of
solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent
at a specific temperature

● solubility at a specific temperature must be

considered

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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Unsaturated Solution
The amount of solute is less than the solute’s
solubility at a given volume and temperature.

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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Saturated Solution
The amount of solute is equal to the solute’s solubility
at a given volume and temperature.

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 Types of Solutions Based on the
Solvent Phase
Supersaturated Solution
● the amount of solute is greater than the solute’s
solubility at a given volume and temperature
● done by dissolving a solute at a higher
temperature, and subsequently cooling it down
● unstable → agitation causes crystallization

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Liquid-Vapor Equilibrium

Crystallization in a supersaturated solution 14

 Types of Solutions Based on
Concentration
Concentrated Solution
● when a solution contains an excessively large
amount of solute
● most common unit of concentration: molarity (M)
● molarities > 1 M
● used as stock solutions in preparing diluted
solution

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 Types of Solutions Based on
Concentration
Concentrated Solution

concentrated sulfuric acid = 18 M

glacial (concentrated) acetic acid
= 17 M

Highly concentrated
solutions emit 16
 Types of Solutions Based on
Concentration
Diluted Solution
● solution of low concentration
● prepared through the process of dilution
1. taking an aliquot (portion of the stock solution)
2. adding more solvent to lower the concentration

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● 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.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● 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.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● 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.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● 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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