A solvent is a liquid (gas or solid) that can dissolve a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, thus forming a solution. Water is the most common solvent in everyday life. Organic solvents are organic compounds containing carbon atoms. Solvents typically have low boiling points and are easily volatile. They can also be removed by distillation, leaving the dissolved substance. Therefore, solvents cannot chemically react with the solute; they must be inert. Solvents can extract soluble compounds from mixtures; the most common example is brewing coffee or tea with hot water. Solvents are usually transparent, colorless liquids, and most often have a distinctive odor.
The concentration of a solution depends on the amount of substance dissolved in the solvent. Solubility is the maximum amount of substance a solvent can dissolve at a specific temperature. Organic solvents are mainly used in dry cleaning (e.g., tetrachloroethylene), as paint thinners (e.g., toluene, turpentine), as nail polish remover or glue remover (e.g., acetone, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate), as rust remover (e.g., hexane), as detergent (lemon extract), in perfumes (alcohol), and in chemical synthesis.
