Final answer:
In a solution, the solute is the material present in the smaller amount and is dissolved by the solvent, which is in the larger amount. The solvent also determines the physical state of the solution. They merge due to intermolecular attractions, often following the principle that 'like dissolves like'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The roles that solute and solvent play in forming a solution are fundamental to understanding solutions in chemistry. A solution is a homogeneous mixture in which one substance, the solute, is uniformly dispersed in another substance, the solvent. The solute is the substance present in the lesser amount and is what gets dissolved. The solvent, on the other hand, is the substance present in the larger amount and is responsible for dissolving the solute.
At the molecular level, for a solute to dissolve in a solvent, they must have similar intermolecular attractions, adhering to the principle of 'like dissolves like'. The process of forming a solution can be either endothermic or exothermic, which depends upon the strength of attractions between solute and solvent particles. Water, often called the 'universal solvent', is a prime example because it can dissolve a vast range of solutes due to its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds. An example would be dissolving table salt in water, where salt is the solute and water is the solvent.