New Jersey State Board Esthetics Practice Exam

What term is used for the solid or dissolved part of a solution?

1. Mixture

2. Solute

3. Solvent

4. Suspension

The correct answer is: Solute

The term "solute" refers to the solid or dissolved part of a solution. In the context of solutions, the solute is the substance that is dissolved in another substance, known as the solvent. For example, when salt is mixed with water, the salt acts as the solute because it disintegrates into smaller particles and disperses in the water, which serves as the solvent. Understanding this distinction is crucial in esthetics, particularly when dealing with various solutions for treatments, as it influences the efficacy and reactions of different products applied to the skin. While a mixture encompasses both solute and solvent, it does not specifically identify the dissolved component. The solvent is the medium that dissolves the solute. Lastly, a suspension is a combination where particles are dispersed in a liquid but not fully dissolved, which differs from the concept of a solution where the solute uniformly integrates within the solvent.