What is a true solution?

A true solution is characterized by a uniform liquid mixture of solute and solvent where the solute is completely dissolved at the molecular level, resulting in a clear and transparent solution. This means that the solute particles are sufficiently small and distributed evenly throughout the solvent, creating a homogeneous mixture. In such mixtures, there is no visible separation of particles, and the components cannot be distinguished with the naked eye.

This distinction is crucial since it highlights the fundamental difference between true solutions and other types of mixtures, such as suspensions or colloids, where particles may remain visible or contribute to cloudiness due to larger particle sizes. Thus, recognizing that a true solution cannot be separated by filtration and will not settle over time is key to understanding its properties.