Year 5 Science: Solutions: solute, solvent and solution
Part of the Year 5 Science solutions and separating mixtures chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Solutions: solute, solvent and solution
A solution is a mixture in which a solid has dissolved in a liquid. The solid that dissolves is the solute. The liquid it dissolves into is the solvent.
In salt water, the salt is the solute, the water is the solvent, and the mixture is the solution. Water is the most common solvent, but other liquids can also be solvents.
Key ideas
- A solution is a mixture in which a solid has dissolved in a liquid.
- The solute is the solid that dissolves.
- The solvent is the liquid it dissolves into.
- In salt water, the salt is the solute, the water is the solvent, and the mixture is the solution.
Method. Find the liquid.
- Find the liquid. The liquid that the salt dissolves into is water.water
- Name the solvent. The liquid it dissolves into is the solvent, so the solvent is water.water
- Write the answer. water
Check. The solvent is always the liquid. ✓
Method. Find the solid that dissolves.
- Find the solid. The sugar is the solid that dissolves.sugar dissolves
- Name the solute. The solid that dissolves is the solute, so the solute is sugar.sugar
- Write the answer. sugar
Check. Sugar is the solute. ✓
Method. Think about what happens to the salt.
- Think about the salt. The salt dissolves in the water, so the mixture is a solution.dissolves
- Name the mixture. The mixture is a solution.solution
- Write the answer. solution
Check. Salt water is a solution. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a solution is not a mixture of solids. In a solution the solid has dissolved, so its particles are spread evenly through the liquid.
Try it (with your teacher). Make a cup of sugar water with a teaspoon of sugar and a cup of water. Stir it until the sugar has gone. Point to the solute and the solvent, and say what the mixture is called. Do not taste it, because you must not taste anything in a science lab.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “What is the solid? What is the liquid? What do we call the mixture?” Let your child use the words solute, solvent and solution.
Exercise 6B Solutions: solute, solvent and solution
Method. Read the definition in section 6.2.
- Read the definition. A solution is a mixture in which a solid has dissolved in a liquid.solid dissolved in a liquid
- Name it. The word is solution.solution
- Write the answer. solution
Check. A solution is the mixture made when a solid dissolves. ✓
Method. Read the definition in section 6.2.
- Read the definition. The solid that dissolves is the solute.solute
- Name it. The word is solute.solute
- Write the answer. solute
Check. The solute dissolves into the solvent. ✓
Method. Read the definition in section 6.2.
- Read the definition. The liquid it dissolves into is the solvent.the solvent
- Name it. The word is solvent.solvent
- Write the answer. solvent
Check. Water is a common solvent. ✓
Method. Think about which substance dissolves.
- Think about the salt. The salt dissolves in the water.dissolves
- Name the solute. So the solute is salt.salt
- Write the answer. salt
Check. The salt is the solid that dissolves. ✓
Method. Think about which liquid the salt dissolves into.
- Think about the water. The salt dissolves into the water.into the water
- Name the solvent. So the solvent is water.water
- Write the answer. water
Check. Water is the liquid. ✓
Method. Read the labels in the picture.
- Read the labels. The beaker shows salt dissolved in water, which is a solution.dissolved
- Name the description. So the picture shows a solution, which is a mixture.mixture
- Write the answer. mixture
Check. A solution is a type of mixture. ✓
Method. Think about whether the sugar has dissolved.
- Think about the sugar. Sugar dissolves in water.dissolves
- Decide. So the mixture is a solution, and the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A solid that dissolves in a liquid makes a solution. ✓
Method. Think about whether the sand dissolves.
- Think about the sand. Sand does not dissolve in water.does not dissolve
- Decide. So sand mixed with water is not a solution, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Sand stays as grains, so it is a mixture but not a solution. ✓
Method. Think about the solvent.
- Think about the solvent. The solvent is the liquid that the solid dissolves into.liquid
- Decide. Salt is the solid, so it is the solute, not the solvent. Ruby is not right.solute
- Write the answer. no
Check. The solvent is the liquid, which here is water. ✓
Method. Think about other liquids.
- Think about the liquid. Some other liquids can dissolve solids.other liquids
- Name one. Vinegar and washing-up liquid can both act as solvents for some solids.vinegar
- Write the answer. Accept any liquid that dissolves a solid, such as vinegar or washing-up liquid.
Check. Other liquids can also be solvents. ✓
Method. Think about what dissolving does.
- Think about the salt. The salt has dissolved into the water.dissolved
- Write the reason. So its particles spread evenly, which is what makes it a solution.spread evenly
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the salt has dissolved, so its particles are spread evenly through the water.
Check. A solution has its solid spread evenly through the liquid. ✓