Which component of a solution dissolves another substance?

The component of a solution that dissolves another substance is the solvent. In a solution, the solvent is typically the substance present in the greatest amount, and it has the ability to interact with and disintegrate the solute.

For example, when salt is added to water, water acts as the solvent, breaking the ionic bonds in salt and surrounding the individual sodium and chloride ions, effectively dissolving the salt. This process occurs due to the solvent's molecular properties, such as its polarity, which allows it to interact with solute particles effectively.

In contrast, the solute is the substance that is being dissolved, while a solution is the homogeneous mixture formed by the solute and solvent. A colloid, on the other hand, refers to a mixture where tiny particles of one substance are dispersed evenly throughout another, but they do not settle out like in a true solution. Understanding these terms clarifies the roles each component plays in the formation of a solution.