What role do solvents play in a solution?

The chosen answer is correct because solvents are the substances in a solution that dissolve the solutes, which are the substances being dissolved. In a typical solution, the solvent is present in a greater amount compared to the solute, and it facilitates the interaction between solute particles that allows them to disperse evenly throughout the solution. For example, in a saltwater solution, water acts as the solvent, dissolving the salt (the solute) to form a homogeneous mixture.

The other options provide misleading definitions or characteristics that do not apply to solvents. While solid state at room temperature might apply to some substances, it is not a defining property of solvents; many solvents, like water and ethanol, are liquids at room temperature. Similarly, the notion that solvents cannot be mixed contradicts the fundamental behavior of solutions, where the solvent must mix with the solute to form a solution. Lastly, while solvents can influence the temperature of the solution, their primary role is to act as the dissolving medium, rather than actively changing the temperature of the solution.