2.1 Dilute & Concentrated Solutions
We are often concerned with how much solute is dissolved in a given amount of solution. We will begin our discussion of solution concentration with two related and relative terms - dilute and concentrated.
- A dilute solution is one in which there is a relatively small amount of solute dissolved in the solution.
- A concentrated solution contains a relatively large amount of solute.
These two terms do not provide any quantitative information (actual numbers) - but they are often useful in comparing solutions in a more general sense.
These terms also do not tell us whether or not the solution is saturated or unsaturated, or whether the solution is "strong" or "weak". These last two terms will have special meanings when we discuss acids and bases, so be careful not to confuse these terms.