A physical combination of substances in which each keeps its own properties and can be separated physically.
Practise Atomic Structure & Periodicity All Atomic Structure & Periodicity topics
A mixture is a physical combination of two or more substances in which each component keeps its own chemical identity and properties. Unlike a compound, a mixture can contain its components in any proportion, and that proportion can vary from sample to sample. Homogeneous mixtures, such as salt water or air, look uniform throughout, while heterogeneous mixtures, such as sand in water, show visibly distinct parts. Components are separated by exploiting physical differences, including boiling point, particle size, magnetic behaviour and solubility. Because no chemical bonds are broken or formed, the separation is a physical process.
Key ideas: A mixture combines substances physically, in any proportion, and each keeps its own properties. Homogeneous mixtures (solutions, alloys, air) look uniform throughout; heterogeneous ones (sand and water, granite) show distinct regions. Separation uses physical differences: filtration for size, distillation for boiling point, chromatography for adhesion, magnet for magnetism, evaporation for dissolved solids.
Common mistakes and connections: Salt water is a mixture even though it looks uniform, so it is homogeneous, not a compound. Mixtures have variable composition and melt or boil over a range, while pure substances have sharp points. Mixtures lead to solutions, concentration units, and colligative properties.
A mixture can be separated physically: chromatography splits three components that each keep their own identity and appear as separate peaks. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
Sand and salt can be separated by dissolving the salt in water, filtering off the insoluble sand, and then evaporating the water to recover the salt.
A physical combination of substances in which each keeps its own properties and can be separated physically.
Mixture is a beginner topic in Atomic Structure & Periodicity. It needs no earlier chemistry lessons and is a good starting point.
Study these earlier topics in Atomic Structure & Periodicity first: Atom, Element, Compound.
The next topics in Atomic Structure & Periodicity are Pure Substance and Physical Change.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Mixture, and the Atomic Structure & Periodicity quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Mixture is topic 5 of 115 in Atomic Structure & Periodicity.