All About The Types Of Solutions

A solution is a homogenous mixture of two substances. These two substances are the solute and the solvent. For example, salt solution, tea, vinegar, deodorant etc. Here, the homogeneous mixture simply means that the composition is the same throughout the mixture. Such homogenous solutions are also known as true solutions because the size of dissolved particles in true solutions is the same as that of a molecule. True solutions are also called molecular solutions. 

Components of Solution

Solvent – It is that abundant component of the solution in which other substances get dissolved. For example, in a sugar-water solution, the water is the solvent. The solvent is also called the medium of solution. 

Solute – The substance that gets dissolved in the solvent is called the solute. For example, sugar is a solute in the sugar-water solution. 

Characteristics of Solution

• It is a homogenous mixture of two or more substances. 
• A human eye cannot see the particles of a solution even with a microscope. 
• It is stable, and the particles consist of only a single phase. 
• Light cannot pass or scatter through the solution due to the very small particles of its components. 
• Once formed, the particles of the solution cannot be separated with the process of filtration, as the particles easily pass through a filter paper. 

Types of Solution

The solution is a physical process and not a chemical process. Its components (the solute and the solvent) can be recovered by various separation methods in chemically unchanged form. Based on several factors, such as the difference in solvent and solute and concentration, the different types of solution can be classified as follows:

Types of solution based on water as solvent 

1. Aqueous solution – The solution with water as a solvent is called an aqueous solution. Or the solution in which water is present in large quantities can be classified as an aqueous solution. Here, the solutes are totally dissolved in water. For example, salt in water and carbon dioxide in water. 
2. Non-aqueous solution – It is the opposite of an aqueous solution. The solvent in a non-aqueous solution is other than water, such as ether, benzene, petrol, and carbon tetrachloride. Some common examples of non-aqueous solutions are naphthalene in benzene and sulphur in carbon disulphide. 

Types of solutions based on the amount of the solute added

1. Saturated solutions – A saturated solution cannot dissolve more quantity of solute in the solvent at a specific temperature. 
2. Unsaturated solution – A solution that can dissolve more solute at a given temperature is classified as an unsaturated solution. Such solutions contain less solute than the maximum limit of solute it can dissolve at a specific temperature. 
3. Supersaturated solutions – In supersaturated solutions, the solute is dissolved in excess by raising the temperature. These excess solute particles generally get crystallised by the crystallisation process. 

Types of solution based on an amount of solvent added

1. Concentrated solutions – In a concentrated solution, large amounts of solute are dissolved in a small amount of solvent. 
2. Dilute solution – It has a small amount of solute in a large amount of solvent. 

Types of solution based on the amount of concentration of solute in two solutions

1. Hypertonic solutions – Here, the concentration of the solute in a beaker is higher than that in the cell. This difference in concentration helps the solvent come out of the cell, causing the cell to plasmolyse or shrink. 
2. Hypotonic solutions – Hypotonic solutions are those in which the concentration of solute in a beaker is less than in the cell. Here, the difference in concentration enables the solvent to move into the cell, causing it to swell and burst later. 
3. Isotonic solutions – Isotonic solutions have the same concentration of solute in both beaker and cell. In this case, the solvent will move around the cell in both directions.

Types of solution based on physical states of the solute and solvent

The constituents of a solution (solute and solvent) can be present in any physical state, such as solid, liquid and gaseous. Both solute and solvent can be in solid, liquid and gas states. In this way, a total of nine combinations are formed based on the physical state of the components of the mixture. 

• Solid solutions – In these solutions, the solvent is solid, and the solute can be solid, liquid or gas.
  • Solid in solid solutions – Both solvent and solute are in the solid state. For example, alloys.
  • Liquid in solid solutions – The solute is in a liquid state, and the solvent is in a solid state. For example, hydrated salts include copper sulphate (blue vitriol), hydrated ferrous sulphate (green vitriol) and hydrated magnesium sulphate (white vitriol), etc.
  • Gas in solid solutions – The solute is gas or in a gaseous state, and the solvent is in solid state. For example, gas is absorbed on the surface of a metal.
• Liquid solutions – The solvent is liquid, and the solute can be solid, liquid or gas.
  • Solid in liquid – The solute is solid, and the solvent is a liquid. For example, saltwater. 
  • Liquid in liquid – Both solute and solvents are liquids or in a liquid state. For example, Vinegar and alcohol in water.
  • Gas in liquid – In this liquid solution, the solute is a gas, and the solvent is a liquid. For example, carbonated drinks such as Pepsi.
• Gas solutions – In this type, the solvent is gas or in a gaseous state, and the solute can be solid, liquid or gas.
  • Solid in gas – The solute is a solid or in a solid state, and the solvent is gas. For example, camphor in the air.
  • Liquid in gas – The solute is a liquid or substance in a liquid state, and the solvent is gas. For example, fog and mist in the air.
  • Gas in gas – In this type of solution, both solute and solvents are in a gaseous state. For example, the air is a mixture of multiple gases. 

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Solutions

Solutions with uniform composition and properties throughout the solution are termed homogenous solutions. For example, a hot cup of coffee, perfume, cough syrup, salt-water or sugar-water solution etc.

Solutions with non-uniform composition and properties throughout the solutions are classified as heterogeneous solutions. For instance:  solution of oil and water, water and chalk powder, water and sand, etc.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, a solution is a mixture of two or more substances. It is homogeneous in nature. The components of a solution can be present in any of the three states (solid, liquid or gas) to form a solution. Therefore, a total of nine different types of solutions can be formed on the basis of the physical states of the solute and solvent.