What are the two components of a solution?

A solution is composed of two fundamental components: the solvent and the solute. The solvent is the substance that dissolves another substance, while the solute is the substance that is dissolved. In many common solutions, like saltwater, water serves as the solvent, and the salt is the solute.

Choosing the differentiation between these components is crucial in understanding how solutions work in chemistry. For instance, modifying the proportions of the solute and solvent can change the concentration of the solution, which is important in fields such as water treatment, where precise chemical balances are necessary for effective processes.

The other options do not accurately represent the fundamental components of a solution. While water and salts do make a solution in certain contexts (such as saline solutions), they do not encapsulate the broader definition applicable to all types of solutions. Mixtures and compounds refer to different types of chemical combinations, and acids and bases represent categories of substances rather than the core components of a solution.