What are the solute and solvent in milk,rubber,rectified spirit?
Milk is about 87 percent water so the solvent is water bearing the solutes: fats, proteins and sugars. The lipids will separate in milk taken from the cow i.e. the cream rises. Rubber requires a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent, usually a petroleum distillate like naptha. The solutes are tree latex made by the plant as a hydrocarbon biopolymer. The original latex is suspended evenly in the tree’s sap. Rectified spirit is concentrated alcohol (ethanol) meaning the water has been removed by repeat distillation. The alcohol is a good solvent and if it is a drinking alcohol the solutes are what give it its flavor. Essential oils from the juniper berries, coriander seeds and lemon peel present when the alcohol is redistilled to remove more water.
