Final answer:
To determine the major components of a solution, identify the solvent (major component) and the solute (minor component), such as water being the solvent and sugar as the solute in sugary water. The concentration of a solution is measured to indicate the amount of solute in the solvent.
Step-by-step explanation:
To select the major components in a given solution, we must identify the solvent and the solute. The major component, called the solvent, typically determines the solution's phase (solid, liquid, or gas). The minor component, or solute, is dissolved in the solvent. For instance, in a sugary water solution, water is the solvent because it is the component present in the greater amount by mass or moles, and the sugar (sucrose) is the solute as it is the lesser component. This relationship also holds true for a saltwater solution where salt is the solute and water is the solvent.
Concentration of a solution can be expressed in several ways, such as molarity, percent by volume, or percent by mass. This helps in understanding how much solute is present in a given quantity of solvent. It's worth noting that the 'like dissolves like' rule is useful for predicting if a solute will dissolve in a particular solvent, indicative of chemical compatibility