Milady Esthetics State Board Practice Test

What characteristic do solutions typically have?

1. Opaque

2. Transparent

3. Viscous

4. Colorless

The correct answer is: Transparent

Solutions are typically transparent because they consist of a solute that is evenly distributed within a solvent. Transparency in solutions allows light to pass through without significant scattering, which is a key characteristic that distinguishes them from other mixtures, such as suspensions or colloids that may appear cloudy or opaque due to larger particles that scatter light. While some solutions can be colorless, others may have color depending on the solute, thus colorless is not a defining characteristic of all solutions. Solutions can also have varying levels of viscosity, but this is influenced by the nature of the solute and solvent, and isn't a universal trait of solutions. Therefore, transparency is the most consistent and defining characteristic of solutions.