![Corner icon for tutorials on matter. Matter Chalkboard](../art_global/board-matter.png)
Solutions and Mixtures
![Homogeneuos vs Heterogeneous](art/matter_solu_1.png)
Let's compare sugar in water (H2O) to sand in water. Sugar dissolves and is spread throughout the glass of water. The sand sinks to the bottom. The sugar-water is a homogenous mixture while the sand-water is a heterogeneous mixture. Both are mixtures, but only the sugar-water can also be called a solution.
Can anything be in a Solution?
Pretty much. Solutions can be solids dissolved in liquids. When you work with chemistry or even cook in your kitchen, you will usually be dissolving solids into liquids. Solutions can also be gases dissolved in liquids, such as carbonated water. There can also be gases in other gases and liquids in liquids. If you mix things up and they stay at an even distribution, it is a solution. You probably won't find people making solid-solid solutions. They usually start off as solid/gas/liquid-liquid solutions and then harden at room temperature. Alloys with all types of metals are good examples of solid solutions at room temperature.SOLUTION | EXAMPLE |
Gas-Gas Gas-Liquid Gas-Solid Liquid-Liquid Liquid-Solid Solid-Solid |
Air Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in Soda Hydrogen (H2) in Palladium (Pd) Metal Gasoline Dental Fillings Metal Alloys Such as Sterling Silver |
Making Solutions
![Dissolving the solute in the solvent.](art/matter_solu_2.jpg)
Colloids
Science has special names for everything. They also have names for the different types of homogenous mixtures. Solution is the general term used to describe homogenous mixtures with small particles. Colloids are solutions with bigger particles. Colloids are usually foggy or milky when you look at them. In fact, milk is an emulsified colloid.You may also hear about colloids if you study soil. While milk is an organic colloid, soils can be made up of inorganic colloids, such as clay.
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Encyclopædia Britannica: Solutions
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Wikipedia: Solutions
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Encyclopedia.com: Solutions