Chapter

7 Solutions and
Suspensions

Ink in your pen and printing inks are solutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
 Differentiate between solute, solvent and solution.
 Identify solute and solvent in a solution.
 Explain the formation of solution by the particle model.
 Distinguish between aqueous, dilute and concentrated solutions.
 Demonstrate the use of water as a universal solvent.
 Prepare saturated and unsaturated solutions.
 Define solubility.
 Investigate the effect of temperature on solubility using a variety of compounds.
 Differentiate between solutions and suspensions.
 Identify uses of solutions and suspensions in daily life.
 When dirt and water make a mixture, the dirt will slowly settle to the
bottom. When solid sugar dissolves in a glass of water to make a mixture, the
sugar will not settle to the bottom. The sugar and the water mix so completely
that the solid sugar seems to disappear. Every part of this mixture is exactly the
same as every other part. This is a special kind of mixture. We will discuss it in
this chapter.

Solution and its Components

We know that many solids dissolve when
they are put into liquids. When something
dissolves, it forms a solution. A solution is a
homogenous mixture of two or more components.
The mixture of salt and water is a solution. We use
many solutions everyday.
All solutions are the mixture of two or more
substances. The substance in less amount is
called solute. The substance in which solute is
dissolved is called solvent. The solvent is always
more in quantity than a solute. Can you explain
solute and solvent in a solution of salt and water?
Solvent + Solute Solution Fig.7.1: When salt mixes
in the water, a solution
is formed.
Types of Solutions
The most common types of solutions are those in which a solid, liquid or
gas dissolves in a liquid. However, other types of solutions are also found.

Table 7.1: DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLUTIONS

State of State of Examples of Solutions
Solute Solvent
Solid Liquid Salt solution, lemonade, tea
Liquid Liquid Ink in water, alcohol in water
Gas Liquid Carbonated drinks (carbon dioxide dissolved in water)
River water (oxygen dissolved in water)
Gas Gas Air (mixture of many gases)
Solid Solid Brass (mixture of zinc and copper), bronze (mixture of
copper and tin)

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 Some Uses of Solutions
When sugar and water are mixed in such a way that sugar is dissolved
evenly through the water, a solution is produced. We use many kinds of solutions.
1. Carbonated water is a solution of carbon dioxide gas and other substances
dissolved in water. When we shake a can of carbonated water, the gas
separates quickly from the water. In a closed can, the bubbling gas has no
place to go. It builds up pressure. When you open the
can, the gas escapes.
2. We use lemonade and tea in our homes. These are
solutions too.
3. The air is a solution of different gases. We breathe in
this solution.
4. The steel used for buildings and cars is a solution. A
solution of two or more metals is called alloy. During
the process of making steel, carbon and iron are melted
into liquid form. Then the carbon is dissolved in the iron.
5. In the ocean, salt and other minerals are
Fig.7.7: Lemonade and
dissolved in water. Ocean water is a solution. stainless steel are solutions.
Point to think!
Your gold is an alloy made from equal parts of copper and silver combined
with a greater amount of gold. Identify each component of yellow gold as a
solute or solvent.

Suspensions and Their Uses

When powdered chalk and water are mixed, a suspension is produced.
The chalk spreads evenly through the water on shaking. When you stop shaking,
the chalk settles down. This suspension has milky appearance because the
chalk particles are visible.
A mixture in which the solute particles are too large to move freely
with solvent particles and the particles settle down after some time, is
called a suspension.
A suspension can be separated by passing it through a filter. The liquid or
gas passes through, but the filter paper traps the large solid particles.
Here are some examples of suspensions.
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 Mixing soil in water forms a suspension.
 Lassi is a form of suspension.
 Fruit squashes are examples of
suspensions.
 Stirring up the bottom of a river or a lake
Fig.7.8: Some
produces a suspension. After some medicines are
time, the sand or soil again settles available in the
down. suspension form.
 Blood is a suspension. Red blood cells,
white blood cells and platelets are
suspended in a solution called plasma.
 A suspension which contains a large
amount of insoluble solid solute is Fig.7.9: Algae
called slurry. The runny paste of in water is an
cement mixed with water is an example example of
suspension.
of slurry.
Table 7.2: Properties of Solutions and Suspensions
Solutions Suspensions
1. Particles of solute do not settle 1. Particles of solute settle down on
out. standing.
2. Particles pass through ordinary 2. Particles can be separated by
filter paper. ordinary filter paper.
3. Light rays do not scatter on 3. Light rays scatter on passing
passing through the solution. through the suspension.

Chapter Review
1. A solution is a homogenous mixture of two or more components.
2. Aqueous solution is the solution in which water is the solvent.
3. Water is a universal solvent because many things dissolve in it.
4. A concentrated solution contains relatively more quantity of solute.
5. No more solute is dissolved in a saturated solution at particular temperature.
6. Solubility is the amount of solute in grams dissolved in 100 grams of the solvent
at a given temperature.
7. When particles of solute remain suspended in the mixture, the mixture is called
suspension.

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