Solute vs. Solvent

Main Difference

The main difference between Solute and Solvent is that solute is a material that can dissolve in a solution, whereas solvent is a material in which several compounds can dissolve to form a solution.

Difference Between Solute and Solvent

Comparison Chart

Solute vs. Solvent

Solute and solvent are the portions of the solution where the dissolve substance in any solution or mixture is known as the solute whereas the liquid or gas that dissolves another liquid, solid or gas is known as the solvent. The solute is the material which can disappear in a solvent whereas solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolving. The solute is existing in the smaller amount than the solvent, whereas the solvent is existing in the more significant amount than the solvent. The boiling point of solute is higher than the solvent, whereas the boiling point of the solvent is lower than that of solute. The solute is present in solid, liquid or gaseous state whereas solvent is present primarily in the liquid state, but in a gaseous state as well. The solubility of a solute governs on solute properties such as the surface area of the solute whereas solubility of a solute in a solvent depends on the solvent properties such as polarity.

What is Solute?

A substance dissolves in a solution is known as the solute. A solute is solid, liquid or gas, however typically it is a solid compound. Salt in sugar in water, seawater, and oxygen in the air are the few typical examples of the solutes. The solute mixes in the solvent only when the attractive forces among the two, which is stronger enough, overcome molecular effects holding the particles as solute-solute and solvent-solvent particles together. The solute clamps the minor amount in the solution as relating to the solvent. There is the condition in the solution known as saturation in which the solvent is not capable of dissolving any more solute. Solute contain higher boiling points than the solvent by increasing the surface area of the particles of the solute; the solubility increases. The solid particles are dividing into smaller pieces. In the case of gaseous solutes, the solubility is affecting by the pressure, also the volume and temperature. Example of a solute and solvent is clarifying by considering a cup of tea. Milk powder and sugar are dissolving in hot water, and hot water is the solvent, and milk powder and sugar are solutes.

What is the Solvent?

The solute is dissolving in the solvent. It can define as the substance in which different materials or compounds dissolve to become a solution. Solvent occupies the central portion of a solution, usually in liquids. Water is the most common solvent in everyday life as it comprises the ability to dissolve any gas, solid or liquid substances so known as a universal solvent. Polar solvents include high dielectric persistent and contain one or more electronegative atoms like N, H or O. Alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, and amides are the common examples of the functional group existing in polar solvents. Polar solvents are made up of polar molecules and dissolve polar compounds only. The Polar solvent is further dividing as polar protic and polar aprotic solvents. Water and methanol are examples of polar protic molecules as they are adept of making the hydrogen bond with the solutes, while acetone is known as polar aprotic solvent as they are incompetent of producing the hydrogen bond with the solute however create dipole-dipole interactions with the ionic solutes. Non-polar solvents comprise bonds with similar electronegative atoms like C and H. These are made up of non-polar molecules and dissolve non-polar compounds or solutes. The solvent includes the low boiling point and gets evaporate. Solvent exists as liquid only but sometimes can exist as solid or gaseous as well. The commonly use solvents comprise the carbon element and hence known as organic solvents, while others are known as inorganic solvents. Solvents hold characteristic color and odor. Acetone, benzene, alcohol, gasoline, and xylene are com of only using organic solvents comprise great importance in chemical industries. Solvents are using in regulating the temperature in a solution, either to absorb the heat generating during some chemical reaction or to improve the speed of the response with the solute.

Conclusion

Above this discussion, it concludes that solute is a substance that can dissolve in a solution, whereas solvent is a substance in which different compounds can mix to form a solution.