Solvent, << SOL vuhnt, >> is a substance that dissolves another substance to form a solution. The term solvent is also used to refer to the substance in a solution that is present in the greater amount. The substance present in the lesser amount is called the solute.
Most solvents and the solutions they form are liquids, but there are some solutions of gases or solids. Water is the most common solvent and it forms various solutions. Other common solvents include acetone and alcohol. In most cases, the molecules of a solvent and the substance it dissolves are similar. For example, water will dissolve acetone or ethanol but not oil, which is dissolved instead by gasoline.
Solvents have many industrial and scientific applications. They are used in the production of cleaning fluids and such coatings as inks and paints. Solvents also are important in the manufacture of nylon, polyethylene, and many other synthetic fibers. In addition, they are useful for extraction. This technique involves the transfer of a solute from one solution into a second solvent for further separation. The solute may be a useful by-product or an impurity. Extraction is used in analytical chemistry, chemical purification, and petroleum refining.
