What is typically true about an aqueous solution?

An aqueous solution is characterized by having water as the solvent. This means that any solute is dissolved in water, creating a homogeneous mixture. Water acts as an excellent solvent due to its polar nature, allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of ionic and molecular compounds.

The definition of an aqueous solution inherently excludes options that imply it contains only gases or is always acidic. Aqueous solutions can vary widely in their acidity levels, and they can contain a range of solutes, including solids. However, what fundamentally defines an aqueous solution is that the solvent is water, making choice C the correct answer.