O LevelChemistryCambridge (CIE)Revision Notes12. Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis12.1 Experimental DesignSolutions

Solutions (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Chemistry): Revision Note

Exam code: 5070

Written by: Alexandra Brennan

Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll

Updated on 13 October 2026

Solutions

You need to know all the following terms used when describing solutions:

Terminology About Solutions Table

Term	Meaning	Example
Solvent	The liquid in which a solute dissolves	The water in seawater
Solute	The substance which dissolves in a solvent to form a solution	The salt in seawater
Solution	The mixture formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent	Seawater
Saturated solution	A solution with the maximum concentration of solute dissolved in the solvent	Seawater in the Dead Sea
Soluble	Describes a substance that will dissolve	Salt is soluble in water
Insoluble	Describes a substance that will not dissolve	Sand is insoluble in water
Filtrate	The liquid or solution that has passed through a filter	Fresh coffee in a cup
Residue	A substance that remains after evaporation, distillation, filtration or similar processes	Coffee grounds in a filter paper

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Author: Alexandra Brennan

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator / Senior Marketing Executive

Alex studied Biochemistry at Newcastle University before embarking upon a career in teaching. With nearly 10 years of teaching experience, Alex has had several roles including Chemistry/Science Teacher, Head of Science and Examiner for AQA and Edexcel. Alex’s passion for creating engaging content that enables students to succeed in exams drove her to pursue a career outside of the classroom at SME.

Reviewer: Caroline Carroll

Expertise: Head of Content Delivery

Caroline graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Chemistry and Molecular Physics. She spent several years working as an Industrial Chemist in the automotive industry before retraining to teach. Caroline has over 12 years of experience teaching GCSE and A-level chemistry and physics. She is passionate about delivering high-quality resources to help students achieve their full potential.