Chapter 7: Unit 1. Solutions Around Us

Solutions Are Around Us

Solutions are surrounding us and are found in the environment, oceans, air, soils etc.

For example the air is a homogeneous mixture made of mainly nitrogen gas (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%) and some other gases in small amounts (about 1%). Air is considered a solution which is based on homogeneous mixture of nitrogen and oxygen mainly.

Also brass is considered as an alloy (homogenous mixture) made of copper (in access amount) and zinc (in limited amount). Steel also considered as another alloy made of iron (in access amount) and carbon (in limited amount).

Oceans are made of hard water which contains higher content of Magnesium and Calcium ions. Oceans are considered homogeneous mixtures and hence solutions.

In this chapter we will learn more about solutions: types, concentrations, solubility and properties.

The table below summarizes the different solute and solvent types with examples

Solute Solvent Type of solution Example
 liquid  liquid liquid  alcohol – water
 solid liquid liquid  salt – water
 gas liquid liquid  oxygen – water
 gas  gas gas air =
oxygen – nitrogen
 gas  solid solid  hydrogen – Palladium
 liquid gas gas  water in air
 solid gas gas smog
liquid solid solid  Alloy -Mercury Zinc
 solid solid solid  Alloy-  Copper and Zinc