In chemistry, the terms solute and solvent refer to the components of a solution. The solute is the substance that gets dissolved, while the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving.
For example, if you dissolve salt in water, the salt is the solute because it dissolves, and the water is the solvent because it is the medium that facilitates the dissolution of the salt. The primary difference lies in their roles in the solution process: the solute is present in a lesser amount compared to the solvent, which is usually the component in greater quantity.
Understanding the difference between solutes and solvents is crucial in various scientific and practical applications, including creating solutions in laboratories, preparing beverages, and even in industrial processes.