Question

Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. which substance is the solute?

Answer 1

Silver is usually alloyed with copper to increase the hardness and strength of sterling silver. Pure silver is relatively soft and prone to tarnishing so other metals like those that copper is used to reduce tarnishing and act as a solute in sterling silver. Copper is usually soluble in most solvents.

Answer 2

The components of the substance is the solute and the solvent. The one that exists in a larger amount is most referred to as the solvent and the one that is in smaller amount is the solute. Comparing the amounts of the substances, the solute would be the copper.