components of a solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of particles (ions, atoms, or molecules). Since it is homogeneous the component parts cannot be easily identified.

It is made up of the solute, which is present in lesser amount and the solvent, which is present in greater amount. The solute is the dissolved medium while the solvent is the dissolving medium of the solution.

Water is not a universal solvent. If it were, it should dissolve solutes and if it is a universal solvent, it should dissolve everything. But clearly it does not do that. Otherwise fish and other aquatic life would all be dissolved in the ocean; we would dissolve in the water of our cells. It might be a common solvent, because it dissolves many things, but there are just as many things it does not dissolve like metals, rocks, plastics, glass, fats, cellulose, many proteins. Organic solvents like alcohol or gasoline can also have a long list of substances that they can dissolve.