The basic difference between solute and solvent is that the former dissolves and the later is a dissolving medium. The main difference between solute and solvent is that a solute is a substance that is added to a solvent to form a solution. A solvent is a substance that dissolves the solute particles during the formation of a solution. Let us now understand more about the difference between solute and solvent by studying in detail.

What is Solute?

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solution. The quantity of solvent in a fluid solution is greater than the amount of solute. Salt and water are two of the most common examples of solutes in our daily lives. Since salt dissolves in water, it is the solute.

A solute is a substance that can be dissolved into a solution by a solvent. A solute can take many forms. It may be in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid. The solvent, or material that dissolves the solute, separates the molecules of the solute and distributes them evenly.

What is Solvent?

The part of a solution that is present in the greatest amount is called a solvent. It’s the liquid that the solute is dissolved in. A solvent is usually a liquid. The word “solvent” is derived from the Latin word solv, which means “to loosen or untie.”

According to general information on the internet and descriptions given in some books, water is the most powerful solvent among others. It’s also known as the “universal solvent” because it can dissolve almost any material better than any other liquid. Because of its polarity, water is an excellent solvent.

Important Difference between Solute and Solvent

1. Solute 

Definition - A solute is a substance that can be dissolved into a solution by a solvent. A solute can take many forms. It may be in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid.

Phase - The dispersed step of a solution is known as the solute.

Quantity - In a solution, the amount of solute is less than the amount of solvent.

Physical state - The state of a solute may be solid, liquid, or gaseous.

State of solution - The solution may or may not be in the solute’s state.

Boiling point - The boiling point of the solute is higher than that of the solution.

Dependability - Solubility is determined by the solute’s properties.

Solubility - The solubility of a solute is determined by its properties, such as surface area and molecule size.

Heat transfer - Heat is transferred to the solute in a solution.

Examples - Examples of solute include Sugar, dissolved carbon dioxide, Oxygen, water vapour, carbon dioxide, argon

2. solvent

Definition - The part of a solution that is present in the greatest amount is called a solvent. It’s the liquid that the solute is dissolved in. A solvent is usually a liquid.

Phase - The solvent is the solution’s medium step, which disperses the solute particles.

Quantity - In a solution, the amount of solvent is greater than the amount of solute.

Physical state - The majority of solvents are liquids, but some solvents can remain in a gaseous state.

State of solution - The solution is almost certainly in the solvent state.

Boiling point - The boiling point of solvents is lower than that of solutes.

Dependability - Solubility is determined by the solvent’s properties.

Solubility - Solubility is determined by the solvent’s properties, such as polarity.

Heat transfer - Heat is moved from the liquid to the solution.

Examples - Examples of the solvent include Water, Ethanol, Methanol, Acetone, tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Methyl acetate, Ethyl acetate.

Types of Solvents

• Hydrocarbon solvents – Hydrocarbon solvents are organic solvents with only hydrogen and carbon atoms in their molecules. In the refinery of crude oil, hydrocarbon solvents are formed as volatile fractions. The resulting hydrocarbon solvents have varying proportions of paraffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic constituents.

• Oxygenated solvents – Solvents of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in their chemical structure are known as oxygenated solvents. The oxygen molecule is present in an oxygenated solvent, which has a high solvency and low toxicity. Paints, inks, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, adhesives, cosmetics, detergents, and food processing all use these solvents.

• Halogenated solvents – Solvents containing a halogen, such as chlorine, bromine, or iodine, are known as halogenated solvents. Non-halogenated solvent-water mixtures or non-halogenated solvents containing more than 20% water, such as ethanol (80%) Acetone, toluene, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, heptane, hexane, and alcohol containing less than 20% water are examples.

1. Characteristics of the Solute

• Solute have higher boiling points than solvent.

• These can be solid, liquid or gas.

• By increasing the surface area of the particles of the solute, the solubility will increase. The solid particles are broken into smaller pieces.

• In case of gaseous solutes, the solubility is affected by the pressure, besides the volume and temperature.

2. Characteristics of the Solvent

• Solvent has the low boiling point and gets easily evaporate.

• Solvent exists as liquid only but can be solid or gaseous as well.

• The commonly used solvents contain the carbon element and hence called as organic solvents, while others are called as inorganic solvents.

• Solvents have characteristic color and odor.

• Acetone, alcohol, gasoline, benzene, and xylene are the commonly used organic solvents and are of great importance in chemical industries.

• Solvents are also used in regulating the temperature in a solution, either to absorb the heat generated during some chemical reaction or to

• enhance the speed of the reaction with the solute.