The correct option is Sodium.
Explanation
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solute and a solvent. By definition, the component that determines the physical state of the resulting solution is considered the solvent, while the other component is the solute. Alloys and amalgams are types of solid solutions.
Analysis:
- Nature of Amalgam: An amalgam is an alloy formed by mixing mercury with another metal.
- Components: In this specific case, Sodium (Na) is a solid at room temperature, while Mercury (Hg) is a liquid.
- Determination of Solvent: The question specifies that the resulting amalgam is a solid. Since the final mixture retains the physical state of the Sodium, Sodium acts as the solvent. Mercury, being the liquid dispersed within the solid, acts as the solute.
Key Takeaway:
In a solid solution consisting of a liquid mixed into a solid (such as a solid amalgam), the solid component is the solvent and the liquid component is the solute.