The solute in a cup of tea is a) the tea leaves.
When you brew a cup of tea, you are essentially dissolving the soluble compounds from the tea leaves into the water. The tea leaves contain various substances like tannins, flavonoids, and caffeine, which are the actual solutes that impart flavor, color, and aroma to the tea. On the other hand, water serves as the solvent in this case, the medium that dissolves these solutes.
To clarify:
- Tea Leaves: These are the solutes because they contain the flavor components that dissolve in the water.
- Water: This is the solvent that dissolves the flavors from the tea leaves.
- Tea Mixture: The combination of both tea leaves and water is the solution, but it is not the solute itself.
So, in summary, when you make tea, the tea leaves are the solute that blends with the water (the solvent) to create the delightful beverage we enjoy.