Choose the term that describes a liquid capable of dissolving substances.

• A. Solvent
• B. Mainstream
• C. Obtain
• D. Resurface

Answer: (A)

A liquid that dissolves substances is called a solvent. In a solution, the solvent is the medium in which the substance (the solute) is dissolved, usually present in greater amount, and it does the dissolving. Water is a classic example of a solvent because it can dissolve many different substances due to its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds. The broader idea is dissolution or solvation—the process by which the solute becomes incorporated into the solvent to form a solution. The other terms don’t describe a dissolving medium: mainstream refers to what is common or accepted, obtain means to get something, and resurface means to come back to the surface.