Answer:
The substance being dissolved is called the solute and the liquid doing the dissolving is called the solvent. In order for a substance to dissolve, the molecules of the solute need to interact with the molecules of the solvent.
Solute – The solute is the substance that is being dissolved by another substance. In the example above, the salt is the solute. Solvent – The solvent is the substance that dissolves the other substance. In the example above, the water is the solvent.