Principles of Chemistry · 0 question types
Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)
This topic accounts for approximately 6% of your exam marks.
Appears regularly as short-answer questions on particle diagrams and state changes.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Solvent | The substance (usually a liquid at IGCSE) that does the dissolving | Water in seawater |
| Solute | Whatever gets dispersed into the solvent | Sodium chloride in seawater |
| Solution | The single-phase mixture once the solute is fully dispersed | Seawater |
| Saturated solution | Holds as much solute as it can take at the current temperature; further additions stay undissolved | Salt solution sitting over crystals |
| Soluble | Able to dissolve in a stated solvent | Sugar in water |
| Insoluble | Unable to dissolve in a stated solvent | Sand in water |