Chapter 2.3, Problem 2MC

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The differences between a solute and a solvent and between a hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecule.

Introduction:

All organisms require water for their growth and survival. Water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Water has an ability to dissolve many chemical molecules and substances into it due to the polarity nature of water molecules, for example, salt. Even though the salt is dissolved in water, the ions of sodium and chloride still remain. These ions are individually surrounded by water molecules.

Water acts as a good solvent, i.e., a solvent is a substance that can dissolve other chemical substances is called solutes. When a solute dissolved in a liquid solvent is called a solution.

Based on the affinity of water, chemical substances are divided into two types: hydrophilic (substances dissolve in water) and hydrophobic (substances do not dissolve in water).