Aqueous solution

The first solvation shell of a sodium ion dissolved in water

An aqueous solution is a solution where the solvent is water. In a chemical equation it is written by adding (aq) to the formula. A solution of ordinary table salt in water would be written as NaCl(aq). NaCl is the part that means table salt. The word aqueous means being dissolved in water. Water is a solvent. It is found all over the place. Water is a solvent in chemistry.