Expert to make firm solvent (7)
I believe the answer is:
acetone
'solvent' is the definition.
(acetone is a kind of solvent)
'expert to make firm' is the wordplay.
'expert' becomes 'ace' (ace can informally mean very good).
'to make firm' becomes 'tone' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ace'+'tone'='ACETONE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for acetone that I've seen before include "Volatile stuff" , "Paint thinner" , "chemical is the solution" , "it dissolves" , "Common solvent" .)