What is the full definition of heterogeneous and homogeneous mixture
What is the full definition of heterogeneous and homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
It is a mixture in which the particle or substances are not evenly spread or distributed as shown in the above figure. This type of mixture can be easily converted to their original shape through chemical processes. Heterogeneous mixtures are also called as suspensions or colloids. The word ‘hetero’ means different.
For example- Mud is a good example for colloids. If you mix some mud with water and keep it for few days, you can see that mud gets settled in the bottom of the container. Hence this shows that mud and water form a heterogeneous mixture. This kind of suspensions or colloids are visible to the naked eye.
Homogeneous mixture
As the word ‘Homo’ means same, homogeneous mixture are those substances in which the particles are uniformly distributed within the container. The size and shape of every particle remains same in this case. Homogeneous mixture are also known as solutions.
A good example for this kind of mixture is steel. In steel, the iron and carbon are evenly distributed which makes it a homogeneous mixture. These are not visible to the naked eye.
Differences between Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures
Homogeneous mixture Heterogeneous mixture These are called as solutions These are called as suspensions/colloids Substances are Uniformly distributed These substances are Unevenly distributed These are not visible to the naked eye, but visible through the microscope These are easily visible to the naked eye and also through microscope The particles appear smaller in size The particles are either smaller or larger in size These are pure substances These are not pure substances They represent same physical properties They do not possess same physical properties Examples include milk, gasoline, sugar solution, corn oil, fog etc Examples are mixture of mud & water, beach sand, vinegar, air cloud etc
Heterogeneous mixture
It is a mixture in which the particle or substances are not evenly spread or distributed as shown in the above figure. This type of mixture can be easily converted to their original shape through chemical processes. Heterogeneous mixtures are also called as suspensions or colloids. The word ‘hetero’ means different.
For example- Mud is a good example for colloids. If you mix some mud with water and keep it for few days, you can see that mud gets settled in the bottom of the container. Hence this shows that mud and water form a heterogeneous mixture. This kind of suspensions or colloids are visible to the naked eye.
Homogeneous mixture
As the word ‘Homo’ means same, homogeneous mixture are those substances in which the particles are uniformly distributed within the container. The size and shape of every particle remains same in this case. Homogeneous mixture are also known as solutions.
A good example for this kind of mixture is steel. In steel, the iron and carbon are evenly distributed which makes it a homogeneous mixture. These are not visible to the naked eye.
Differences between Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures
| Homogeneous mixture | Heterogeneous mixture |
| These are called as solutions | These are called as suspensions/colloids |
| Substances are Uniformly distributed | These substances are Unevenly distributed |
| These are not visible to the naked eye, but visible through the microscope | These are easily visible to the naked eye and also through microscope |
| The particles appear smaller in size | The particles are either smaller or larger in size |
| These are pure substances | These are not pure substances |
| They represent same physical properties | They do not possess same physical properties |
| Examples include milk, gasoline, sugar solution, corn oil, fog etc | Examples are mixture of mud & water, beach sand, vinegar, air cloud etc |
