Dissolved substances - use lots at work (7)

I believe the answer is:

solutes

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'dissolved substances' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'use lots at work' is the wordplay.
'at work' indicates an anagram.
'use'+'lots'='uselots'
'uselots' is an anagram of 'SOLUTES'.

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