Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 7 - Science

Mixtures and solutions

Solutions

Unit Summary

This unit explores the concepts of pure substances, mixtures, and diffusion in liquids and gases. It emphasises accuracy, precision, and the use of appropriate techniques during investigations. The focus is on making predictions and recording reliable observations.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use key terms to describe a solution and describe how making a solution affects its total mass.

Key Notes

  • A solution is formed when a soluble solid dissolves in an appropriate solvent
  • In chemistry, mass is measured in grams (g)
  • The mass of substances that are mixed adds together to give the total mass of the mixture (mass is conserved)

Vocabulary To Learn

  • solute: A solute is a substance that has dissolved into a solvent.
  • solvent: A solvent is a substance into which a solute dissolves.
  • soluble: When a solute dissolves, it is described as soluble.
  • solution: When a solute and solvent combine, a solution forms.
  • conservation of mass: The combined mass of starting materials equals the combined mass of the end products.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils confuse similarly sounding key terms; solute, solvent, solution, soluble, insoluble.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

A solution is formed when a soluble solid dissolves in an appropriate solvent. In chemistry, mass is measured in grams (g).

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'solute'

A solute is a substance that has dissolved into a solvent. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils confuse similarly sounding key terms; solute, solvent, solution, soluble, insoluble. Correction: Spend time discussing ways to remember the differences, e.g. solvent has more letters = have more of it in the solution.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 Science guide library.