A substance that dissolves another substance is called a solvent. Solvents are capable of dissolving other substances, known as solutes, to form a solution. In a solution, the solute is evenly distributed and dispersed throughout the solvent. Solvents play a crucial role in various processes, such as cleaning, chemical reactions, and pharmaceutical formulations. They have the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances, including solids, liquids, and gases.