The two parts of a solution are the solvent and the solute. When the two parts combine to make a solution, the properties of the solution differ from the properties of the two individual parts.
The solvent of a solution is its major component. It is a liquid and is the substance into which the solute dissolves. The solute is generally more of a minor component and is the substance that dissolves in the solute. If a solid or gas is mixed with a liquid, the solid or gas is always the solute. If two liquids combine, the major liquid is the solvent and the minor one the solute.
