American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Practice Exam 2025 - Free ACS Chemistry Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term that describes a substance that is dissolved in a solution is "solute." In a solution, the solute is the component present in a lesser amount compared to the solvent, which is the substance that dissolves the solute. For example, when table salt (sodium chloride) is dissolved in water, the salt is the solute, and water is the solvent. This foundational concept is essential in understanding how solutions form and the interactions between different substances in a mixture.

The other terms refer to different concepts: a solvent is the medium that does the dissolving, electrolytes are substances that dissociate into ions when dissolved in water and can conduct electricity, and reagents are substances used in chemical reactions. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping the behaviors of mixtures and reactions in chemistry.