Question

Solutions are classified into aqueous and non-aqueous solutions, based on:

• A. Nature of solute particles
• B. Nature of solvent
• C. Size of the particles
• D. Thickness of solvent

Hint:

The classification of solutions as aqueous or non-aqueous is based on the solvent used, not the solute or the size of the particles.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Solutions are categorized into aqueous and non-aqueous solutions based on the nature of the solvent. In chemistry:

• Aqueous solutions involve water as the solvent. Water's unique properties make it a universal solvent, capable of dissolving a wide range of substances.
• Non-aqueous solutions, on the other hand, involve solvents other than water. These solvents can dissolve substances that are not soluble in water and are crucial in processes where water's properties are unsuitable.

Understanding the nature of the solvent is essential to determine the type of solution, as it directly influences the solution’s properties such as solubility, conductivity, and reactivity.

Answer 2

The words "aqueous" and "non-aqueous" describe what a solution is dissolved in, not what is dissolved or how big the dissolved particles are. Let's check each option against that idea.

1. Nature of solute particles: The solute is the substance being dissolved, but a solution stays "aqueous" as long as water is the solvent, no matter what solute is added, so the solute's nature is not what fixes this classification.
2. Nature of solvent: Water as the solvent makes a solution aqueous; any other solvent (alcohol, benzene, and so on) makes it non-aqueous. This directly matches how the two categories are defined.
3. Size of the particles: Particle size separates true solutions from colloids and suspensions, a completely different classification, not the aqueous versus non-aqueous split.
4. Thickness of solvent: "Thickness" usually refers to viscosity, which is a physical property of the solvent but plays no role in whether a solution is called aqueous or non-aqueous.

Since the term "aqueous" literally means "of water," the classification tracks which solvent is used, water or something else.

So the correct answer is nature of solvent.