The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions: common misconceptions

If your child says… “The bigger amount is always the solvent.”

Ask together

In syrup, which ingredient was the liquid that dissolved the solid sugar?

What’s true

For two liquids forming a solution, the larger amount is called the solvent.

If your child says… “A concentrated solution cannot dissolve any more.”

Ask together

If another pinch dissolves, has this solution reached its limit?

What’s true

Even concentrated sugar water is unsaturated if it can dissolve more sugar at that temperature.

If your child says… “Warm water holds more oxygen too.”

Ask together

If warming lowers oxygen’s solubility, which water can hold more?

What’s true

At equal air pressure, cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water.

If your child says… “Mass and weight are the same.”

Ask together

What changed on the Moon: the suitcase’s contents or the pull on them?

What’s true

Mass uses grams or kilograms, while weight uses newtons.

If your child says… “The final reading is the pebble’s volume.”

Ask together

How much of that final reading was water already there?

What’s true

Subtract the starting reading from the final reading to find the pebble’s volume.

If your child says… “Relative density needs g/cm³ too.”

Ask together

What happens to matching units when you divide one density by another?

What’s true

Relative density compares densities in matching units, usually against water, so the units cancel.

If your child says… “Heating adds mass.”

Ask together

Do the sealed cylinders gain any particles when the gas expands?

What’s true

Heating adds no matter, so expansion changes volume while mass stays unchanged.

If your child says… “Water shrinks when it freezes.”

Ask together

Where is the frozen surface compared with the starting water level?

What’s true

The same mass takes up more space as ice than as liquid water.