Question

1. in a saltwater solution, which is the solute? which is the solvent?

Explanation:

In a solution, the solute is the substance that is dissolved, and the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving. In a saltwater solution, salt (sodium chloride, \( \text{NaCl} \)) is the solute because it is the substance being dissolved. Water (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)) is the solvent because it is the substance that dissolves the salt. This is based on the definitions of solute and solvent in a solution, where the solvent is typically the component present in the greater amount (in the case of saltwater, water is present in much larger quantity than salt) and the solute is the component present in the lesser amount and is dissolved by the solvent.

Answer:

Solute: Salt (sodium chloride, \( \text{NaCl} \))
Solvent: Water (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \))