Regel was an extremely prolific scientist and author. In addition to writing a number of major reference works in botany, he published 3101 articles in academic journals.
A solution is a homogenous mixture of two or more substances that exist in a single phase. There are two main parts to any solution. The solute is the component of a solution that is dissolved in the solvent; it is usually present in a smaller amount than the solvent. The solvent is the component into which the solute is dissolved, and it is usually present in greater concentration. For example, in a solution of salt water, salt is the solute and water is the solvent. In solutions where water is the solvent, the solution is referred to as an aqueous solution. A solution does not have to involve liquids. For instance, air is a solution that consists of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases, and solder is a solution of lead and tin.
Solute and solvent. A solute is the substance that dissolves to make a solution. In salt solution, salt is the solute. A solvent is the substance that does the dissolving â it dissolves the solute. In salt solution, water is the solvent. During dissolving, particles of solvent collide with particles of solute. They surround the particles of solute, gradually moving them away until the particles are evenly spread through the solvent.