In chemistry, the term ‘aqueous’ specifically refers to a solution in which water is the solvent. When you see a substance denoted as ‘aqueous’ (for example, NaCl(aq)), it means that the substance is dissolved in water. This implies that the solute is thoroughly mixed at a molecular level with water, leading to a homogeneous mixture.
On the other hand, ‘liquid’ is a broader term that refers to one of the states of matter where particles are closely packed but can move around, allowing the liquid to take the shape of its container. Liquids can include pure substances, such as water, or mixtures like oil or alcohol, and they don’t have to be aqueous.
To summarize, the key difference lies in the solvent: ‘aqueous’ indicates water is the solvent, while ‘liquid’ refers to any substance in the liquid state, regardless of the solvent. Understanding this distinction helps in interpreting chemical equations and the nature of the substances involved.