What is the solute?

• A. A substance that dissolves a solute.
• B. A substance dissolved in another substance.
• C. The temperature of the solution.
• D. The solvent in a solution.

Answer: (B)

In a solution, the solute is the substance that is dissolved in another substance. It’s usually present in a smaller amount and becomes dispersed within the solvent. For example, when salt is added to water, salt is the solute and water is the solvent. The substance that does the dissolving is the solvent, not the solute, which is why a description like “a substance that dissolves a solute” doesn’t describe the solute itself. The temperature of the solution is not about the solute or solvent, and the solvent is the component that dissolves the solute, not the solute. So the best description is a substance dissolved in another substance.