Vinegar is a common household solution that we consume. What is the solvent and what is the solute in vinegar?

Short Answer

Expert verified
In vinegar, the solvent is water (H₂O), and the solute is acetic acid (CH₃COOH). This is because vinegar is a mixture of approximately 4-8% acetic acid and 92-96% water, with water being present in the largest amount.

Step by step solution

01

Identifying solvent and solute: Definitions

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. The substance present in the largest amount is the solvent, and the substance(s) present in smaller amounts is/are the solute(s). Vinegar is a well-known solution, and it consists of a mixture of two components.
02

Components of Vinegar

Vinegar is a mixture of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and water (H₂O). Among these components, we need to identify which one is the solvent and which one is the solute.
03

Determining the Solvent and Solute

To determine which component is the solvent and which is the solute, we need to consider the amounts of each component in vinegar. Typically, vinegar is made up of about 4-8% acetic acid and 92-96% water. Since water is present in the largest amount, it serves as the solvent in vinegar. Acetic acid, being present in a smaller amount, is the solute in the vinegar solution. So, in vinegar: Solvent: Water (H₂O) Solute: Acetic Acid (CH₃COOH)

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