Which statement best describes a solution?

Which statement best describes a solution?

• A. A homogeneous mixture with the solute evenly dispersed at the molecular level
• B. A heterogeneous mixture with layers
• C. A dense suspension of solids
• D. A colloidal dispersion

Answer: (A)

A solution is a homogeneous mixture where the solute dissolves in the solvent at the molecular level, giving a uniform composition throughout. The statement describing a homogeneous mixture with the solute evenly dispersed at the molecular level matches this idea exactly—once dissolved, the particles are too small to settle or separate and you can’t see different parts of the mixture. The other descriptions point to mixtures that are not true solutions. A heterogeneous mixture with layers has distinct regions that are not uniformly mixed. A dense suspension of solids contains undissolved particles that can settle out over time, so the mixture isn’t uniform. A colloidal dispersion has particles larger than those in a true solution and, while it may appear uniform, it’s not dissolved at the molecular level and can exhibit light-scattering effects.

A solution is a homogeneous mixture where the solute dissolves in the solvent at the molecular level, giving a uniform composition throughout. The statement describing a homogeneous mixture with the solute evenly dispersed at the molecular level matches this idea exactly—once dissolved, the particles are too small to settle or separate and you can’t see different parts of the mixture.

The other descriptions point to mixtures that are not true solutions. A heterogeneous mixture with layers has distinct regions that are not uniformly mixed. A dense suspension of solids contains undissolved particles that can settle out over time, so the mixture isn’t uniform. A colloidal dispersion has particles larger than those in a true solution and, while it may appear uniform, it’s not dissolved at the molecular level and can exhibit light-scattering effects.