Final answer:
The solvent in the mixture of lithium chloride and water is water (H2O), as it has the ability to dissolve LiCl by surrounding and stabilizing its ions upon dissociation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The solvent in a mixture is the substance that dissolves the solute, which in this case is lithium chloride (LiCl). Since water (H2O) is capable of dissolving many substances, including ionic compounds like LiCl, it is the solvent in this mixture. Therefore, the correct answer is C) H2O.
Lithium chloride, when added to water, dissociates into its constituent ions, Li+ and Cl−. These ions interact with the polar water molecules, which can surround and stabilize them, leading to the dissolution of the compound. This interaction is energetic and helps overcome the lattice energy of LiCl. Hence, water serves as the solvent, promoting the dissolution of the ionic compound and resulting in Li+ and Cl− ions that are distributed throughout the aqueous solution.