Question

Give one example each of a homogeneous and a heterogeneous mixture.

Answer 1

Mixture - A mixture is a substance which consists of two or more pure substances (elements or compounds) mixed together in any proportion so that components do not lose their identity. For example - seawater, petrol, soil, soft drinks and air is a mixture of several gases.

Depending upon the nature of components which form the mixtures, we have two types of mixtures:

(i) Homogeneous mixtures:

1. A mixture is said to be a homogeneous mixture if it has the same composition throughout the sample.
2. A homogeneous mixtures has no visible boundaries of separation between various constituents.
3. Examples of salt solution (sodium chloride is dissolved in water) and sugar solution (sugar dissolved in water).

(ii) Heterogeneous mixtures:

1. A mixture is said to be a heterogeneous mixture if it consists of two or more parts ( called phases ) which have a different composition.
2. It has visible boundaries of separation of various constituents.
3. Example- salt and sulphur, a mixture of iron and sulphur, smoke ( mixture of air and carbon particles).