------------------
>Well, I think I see where the confusion came from... I *did* find one =
text
>last night that stated air is a solution of gasses. But I found another
>where the definition of a solvation
'solvation'?...sorry couldn't resist. :-o
----------------
required the solvent to exert some
>attractive force upon the solute in order to dissolve it. [In other =
words,
>if a mixture comes about by dissolving, then the substance that exerts the
>force is the solvent and the substance acted upon is the solute.] This is
>the definition that matches what I was taught in HS and college (although
>the text I found this definition in was not one I ever used). Using that
>definition, since water doesn't dissolve in air (i.e., air doesn't exert =
an
>*attractive* force to rip water molecules out of their liquid state), air
>cannot be a solvent and water is not a solute and therefore humid air is =
not
>a solution.
True, since the 'surface tension' is what 'releases' the water molecule.
However, the 'energy level' of the air will 'transfer' some of energy to =
the surface molecules to allow for 'evaporation'.
----------------
>So, it seems, there is a 'generic' usage of the term "solution" to mean =
any
>situation where there is a homogeneous mixture of substances. But there =
is
>also the rigorous definition that accounts for the physical process by =
which the mixture came about.
>
>Clear as mud, right? (Which, IIRC, is a suspension...)
>
>- Eric.
Yup, eh, that two.
------------------
!ooW %-)
Pres. of Los Angeles Newton Users Group!
lanug2000_at_yahoo.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lanug2000
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