A solvent is the liquid that dissolves a substance (solute) to form a solution. It is usually present in a larger amount in the solution.
The most common solvent is water, often called the universal solvent because it can dissolve many substances.
Examples:
- In a sugar solution: water is the solvent, sugar is the solute.
- In salt solution: water is the solvent, salt is the solute.
- Other solvents include alcohol, kerosene, petrol, and acetone.