What type of solution is characterized by water as its solvent?

An aqueous solution is specifically defined by having water as its solvent. This term describes any solution where water is the primary solvent that dissolves solutes, which can include a variety of ionic compounds, polar molecules, and some gases. Aqueous solutions are essential in many biological processes, as many biochemical reactions occur in water-based environments.

In contrast, the other types of solutions mentioned do not involve water as the solvent. Hydrophobic solutions often refer to mixtures where water does not effectively dissolve nonpolar substances, leading to separation rather than a true solution. Organic solutions typically involve organic solvents like ethanol or acetone, not water. Lastly, nonpolar solutions refer to solvents that do not interact well with water, thereby excluding it from being the solvent in those contexts. Thus, the distinction of an aqueous solution fundamentally hinges on the presence of water as the solvent.