■ Critical Thinking Questions & Answers – Solute & Solvent
Q1. Why does sugar dissolve faster in hot water than in cold water?
A1. In hot water, the water particles move faster and collide more often with sugar particles,
breaking them apart quickly. In cold water, particles move slowly, so dissolving takes longer.
Q2. If you keep adding salt to water, will it keep dissolving forever? Why or why not?
A2. No, it will not. After a certain point, the water becomes saturated and cannot dissolve any more
salt because all the spaces between water particles are filled.
Q3. Why do you think oil does not dissolve in water, even if you stir it a lot?
A3. Oil and water have different properties. Water is polar and oil is non-polar, so they do not mix.
Instead, oil floats because it is lighter than water.
Q4. Which would dissolve faster: a sugar cube or powdered sugar in water? Why?
A4. Powdered sugar would dissolve faster because it has a larger surface area in contact with the
water, so more particles can break apart at the same time.
Q5. Imagine you are making lemonade. If you add too much sugar and it does not dissolve, what
could you do to make it dissolve?
A5. You could stir it more, use warm water, or add less sugar so the solution doesn’t become
saturated.
■ Application-Based Questions on Solute & Solvent
Q1. You are making a cup of tea. Identify the solute and the solvent when you add sugar to the tea.
A1. Sugar is the solute, and tea (which is mostly water) is the solvent.
Q2. A child adds too much chocolate powder to milk, and some remains at the bottom. What does
this tell you about the solution?
A2. The milk has become saturated; it cannot dissolve more chocolate powder.
Q3. Salt is spread on icy roads in winter. Why does the salt dissolve in the melting ice and help
clear the roads?
A3. Salt is the solute and the melting ice is the solvent. Salt lowers the freezing point of water,
which helps the ice melt faster and keeps roads safe.
■ Objective Questions (with answers)
Q1. Which one is the solute in saltwater? a) Salt b) Water c) Both d) None
■ Answer: a) Salt
Q2. What is the universal solvent? a) Oil b) Milk c) Water d) Alcohol
■ Answer: c) Water
Q3. When sugar is dissolved in water, the mixture is called a: a) Suspension b) Solution c) Solid d)
Solvent
■ Answer: b) Solution
Q4. Which will dissolve faster? a) Sugar cube in cold water b) Powdered sugar in hot water
■ Answer: b) Powdered sugar in hot water
Q5. True or False: Oil is a solvent for water.
■ Answer: False
■ Subjective Questions (with answers)
Q1. Explain the difference between solute and solvent with one example.
■ Answer: A solute is the substance that gets dissolved, and a solvent is the substance that does
the dissolving. Example: In saltwater, salt is the solute and water is the solvent.
Q2. Why is water called the “universal solvent”?
■ Answer: Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve many substances like salt,
sugar, and gases, more than any other liquid.
Q3. What happens when you keep adding sugar to a glass of water and it no longer dissolves?
■ Answer: The solution becomes saturated. This means the solvent (water) cannot dissolve any
more solute (sugar).
Q4. Give two examples from daily life where solutes are dissolved in solvents.
■ Answer: 1. Sugar dissolving in tea or coffee. 2. Salt dissolving in water while cooking.
Q5. Why do you think stirring and heating help solutes dissolve faster?
■ Answer: Stirring helps to spread solute particles throughout the solvent, and heating increases
the speed of solvent particles, which makes solutes dissolve faster.
Q4. A cook adds lemon juice to water and stirs in sugar to make lemonade. Explain why stirring is
important in this process.
A4. Stirring helps the sugar (solute) spread evenly in the water and lemon juice (solvents), making a
uniform solution.
Q5. Doctors give patients medicines in liquid form (syrup). Why do you think syrups are easier for
children to take than solid tablets?
A5. In syrups, the medicine (solute) is already dissolved in a liquid solvent, so it is easier to swallow
and the body can absorb it faster.
