Solutes dissolve in what substance to form a solution?

To form a solution, solutes dissolve in a solvent. A solvent is typically a liquid that has the ability to dissolve other substances without changing its own state. For example, when table salt (the solute) is mixed with water (the solvent), the salt dissociates into its individual ions and becomes evenly distributed throughout the water, resulting in a saline solution.

In chemistry, the solvent is often the major component in a solution and is usually present in a greater amount than the solute. This distinction is crucial because the properties of a solution, including its boiling point, melting point, and conductivity, depend on the nature of both the solvent and the solute.

Other choices like acid or base refer to specific types of solutes or solvents that have particular chemical properties, but they do not encompass the broader category of what a solvent is in a general sense. Hence, the solvent plays a vital role in the process of dissolving solutes to create a solution.