Mixtures
What is a Mixture?
● A mixture is a combination of two or more substances physically combined (not chemically).
● Substances in a mixture keep their own properties.
Types of Mixtures
1. Homogeneous Mixture
○ Uniform throughout; components are evenly mixed.
○ Also called a solution.
○ Examples: salt water, air, vinegar.
2. Heterogeneous Mixture
○ Not uniform; you can see the different parts.
○ Examples: salad, sand and water, cereal with milk.
Separation of Mixtures
Methods used to separate mixtures depend on properties like size, density, or boiling point:
● Filtration – separates solids from liquids (sand and water).
● Distillation – separates liquids based on boiling point (alcohol and water).
● Evaporation – removes liquid, leaving solid behind (salt from seawater).
● Magnetism – separates magnetic from non-magnetic materials (iron and sulfur).
● Decantation – pouring off liquid to leave solid at the bottom.
● Centrifugation – spinning to separate substances by density (blood components).
Solutions, Suspensions, and Colloids
● Solution – particles are very small and evenly distributed (salt in water).
● Suspension – particles are large, can settle out (muddy water).
● Colloid – particles do not settle, appear cloudy (milk, fog).
