A can of cola consists mostly of sugar dissolved in water, with some carbon dioxide gas that makes it fizzy and makes the pH less than 7. In chemical terms, you could say that cola is an aqueous solution where water is the _________ , sugar is a _________ , and carbon dioxide makes the solution _________ .a. solvent . . . solute . . . basicb. solute . . . solvent . . . basicc. solvent . . . solute . . . acidicd. solute . . . solvent . . . acidic

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the role of water in the solution: In an aqueous solution, water is typically the solvent, the substance in which other materials dissolve.
2. Determine the role of sugar: Sugar is dissolved in the water, making it the solute, the substance that is dissolved in the solvent.
3. Consider the effect of carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide, when dissolved in water, forms carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the solution, making it acidic.
4. Review the options provided: Match the identified roles of water, sugar, and carbon dioxide with the options given.
5. Select the correct option: Choose the option where water is the solvent, sugar is the solute, and carbon dioxide makes the solution acidic.

Key Concepts

Aqueous Solution

An aqueous solution is a solution in which water is the solvent. In this context, it means that the primary component of the cola is water, which dissolves other substances. Understanding this concept is crucial because it helps identify the roles of different components in the solution, such as solutes and their effects on properties like pH.

Solvent and Solute

In a solution, the solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute, which is the substance being dissolved. In cola, water acts as the solvent, while sugar and carbon dioxide are solutes. Recognizing the distinction between these terms is essential for accurately filling in the blanks in the question and understanding the composition of solutions.

pH and Acidity

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, with values below 7 indicating acidity. In the case of cola, the presence of carbon dioxide contributes to its acidic nature, lowering the pH. Understanding pH is important for interpreting the chemical properties of solutions and determining the correct classification of cola in the question.