what is a solvent

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. It can be a liquid, solid, gas, or supercritical fluid. Solvents can be broadly classified into two categories: polar and non-polar. Polar solvents, such as water, are capable of forming hydrogen bonds with water to dissolve in water, whereas non-polar solvents are not capable of strong hydrogen bonds. Solvents are widely used in various industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, oil, and gas industries, as well as in paints, inks, and dry cleaning