aqueous solution
a solution in which water is the solvent
colligative property
a physical property of a solution that depends only on the number (concentration) of solute particles (molecules or ions) present in a given quantity of solvent and not on their chemical identities
colloidal dispersion
a homogeneous mixture that contains dispersed particles that are intermediate in size between those of a true solution and those of an ordinary heterogeneous mixture
concentrated solution
a solution that contains a large amount of solute relative to the amount that could dissolve
concentration
the amount of solute present in a specified amount of solution
dialysis
the process in which a semipermeable membrane allows the passage of solvent, dissolved ions, and small molecules but blocks the passage of colloidal-sized particles and large molecules
dilute solution
a solution that contains a small amount of solute relative to the amount that could dissolve
dilution
the process in which more solvent is added to a solution in order to lower its concentration
Henry's law
a law that states that the amount of gas that will dissolve in a liquid at a given temperature is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid
hypertonic solution
a solution with a higher osmotic pressure than that within cells
hypotonic solution
a solution with a lower osmotic pressure than that within cells
isotonic solution
a solution with an osmotic pressure that is equal to that within cells
mass-volume percent
the mass of solute in a solution (in grams) divided by the total volume of solution (in milliliters), multiplied by 100
molarity
the moles of solute in a solution divided by the liters of solution
nonaqueous solution
a solution in which a substance other than water is the solvent
osmolarity
the product of a solution's molarity and the number of particles produced per formula unit if the solute dissociates
osmosis
the passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane separating a dilute solution (or pure solvent) from a more concentrated solution
osmotic pressure
the pressure that must be applied to prevent the net flow of solvent through a semipermeable membrane from a solution of lower solute concentration to a solution of higher solute concentration
percent by mass
the mass of solute in a solution divided by the total mass of solution, multiplied by 100 (to put the value in terms of percentage)
percent by volume
the volume of solute in a solution divided by the total volume of solution, multiplied by 100
saturated solution
a solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved under the conditions at which the solution exists
semipermeable membrane
a membrane that allows certain types of molecules to pass through it but prohibits the passage of other types of molecules
solubility
the maximum amount of solute that will dissolve in a given amount of solvent under a given set of conditions
solute
a component of a solution that is present in a lesser amount relative to that of the solvent
solution
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances with each substance retaining its own chemical identity
solvent
the component of a solution that is present in the greatest amount
supersaturated solution
an unstable solution that temporarily contains more dissolved solute than that present in a saturated solution
suspension
a heterogeneous mixture that contains dispersed particles that are heavy enough that they settle out under the infl uence of gravity
Tyndall effect
the light-scattering phenomenon that causes the path of a beam of visible light through a colloidal dispersion to be observable
unsaturated solution
a solution that contains less than the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved under the conditions at which the solution exists