Defining a Concentrated Solution
A concentrated solution is a chemical solution that contains a large amount of solute dissolved in a relatively small volume of solvent. This implies that the dissolved substance is present in a high proportion compared to the liquid or medium that is doing the dissolving.
Key Principles of Concentration
The term 'concentrated' describes the relative abundance of solute and is distinct from terms like 'saturated' or 'unsaturated.' While concentration quantifies the amount of solute, a concentrated solution doesn't necessarily mean it's saturated (holding the maximum possible solute). It simply indicates a high ratio of solute to solvent, which can vary from moderately high to near its solubility limit.
Practical Examples in Everyday Life and Science
A familiar example is concentrated fruit juice, which has much less water and more fruit solids than ready-to-drink juice. In chemistry, concentrated acids like concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) contain a very high percentage of the acid, often 98% or more, meaning only a tiny fraction is water.
Importance and Applications
Concentrated solutions are crucial in many fields. They are efficiently stored and transported due to their smaller volume, and serve as stock solutions from which desired dilute solutions can be precisely prepared through a process called dilution. In industrial and laboratory settings, high concentrations are often necessary to achieve faster reaction rates, higher yields, or specific analytical results.