What is the Difference Between Liquid and Solution?

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The main difference between a liquid and a solution is that a liquid is a state of matter, while a solution is a homogeneous mixture of substances with variable composition. Here are some key differences between liquids and solutions:

  1. Composition: A liquid is made of single type of molecules, whereas a solution is made up of two or more types of molecules.
  2. Purity: A liquid is considered pure if it is made up of a single substance, while a solution is not pure as it contains dissolved substances.
  3. Solvent: In a solution, one substance (the solute) is dissolved in another substance (the solvent). The solvent can be a liquid, solid, or gas, while the solute can be a solid, gas, or another liquid.
  4. Concentration: Solutions can be classified as concentrated or dilute depending on the percentage of solute in them. The concentration of a solution can affect its properties, such as boiling point, melting point, and vapor pressure.
  5. Aqueous Solution: An aqueous solution is a type of solution where water is the solvent. Aqueous solutions are commonly referred to as "dissolved in water" or "similar to water".

In summary, a liquid is a state of matter with a single type of molecules, while a solution is a homogeneous mixture of substances with variable composition, made up of a dissolved solute in a solvent.

Comparative Table: Liquid vs Solution

The main difference between a liquid and a solution is that a liquid is a state of matter, while a solution is a mixture of two or more substances. Here is a table highlighting the differences between liquids and solutions:

Liquid Solution
A state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
Particles are free to move over each other, but still attracted to each other The components of a solution can be separated by physical processes
Examples: water, oil, lemonade An example of a solution is a saltwater solution, where salt is dissolved in water

In summary, a liquid is a state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape, while a solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.