What is Solute?

A solute is a substance that is present in smaller amounts in a solution and gets dissolved in a solution. In most cases, there’s more solvent (the thing doing the dissolving) than solute in a solution. A classic example is salt and water—when salt dissolves in water, the salt is the solute and water is the solvent.

A solute can be a gas, liquid, or solid. The solvent (like water) breaks the solute’s molecules apart and spreads them evenly throughout the solution.

What is Solvent

A solvent is the part of a solution that is present in larger amounts and can dissolve the solute. Most of the time, solvents are liquids, but they can also be solids or gases, depending on the solution. The solvent acts as the base that allows the solute particles to spread out and mix evenly, creating a solution. The word “solvent” comes from the Latin word “Solv”, meaning “to loosen or untie”—which makes sense, since it breaks apart and dissolves the solute.

Important Difference between Solute and Solvent

There are follwing difference between Solute and Solvent:

Base

Solute

Solvent
Defination A solute is a substance that is present in smaller amounts A solvent is the part of a solution that is present in larger amounts
Form Solute can be a any form: gas, liquid, or solid. Solvents are liquids Mostly, but they can also be solids or gases
Boiling point The boiling point of a solute is usually higher than that of the solution. On the other hand, solvents tend to have a lower boiling point compared to solutes.
Dissolving nature Solute gets dissolved in the solvent. On the other hand, solvent dissolves the solute to form a solution.
Properties The solute changes the properties of the solution. The solvent determines the properties of the solution.
Examples of solutes include sugar, salt, glucose, oxyzen, carbon dioxide rtc. Water, Acetone, Ethanol, Methanol, tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Methyl acetate, and Ethyl acetate.