A 

mixture is when two or more substances are combined, but each substance keeps its physical properties, which is a
characteristic that can be measured or observed. Mixtures do not have a chemical reaction, such as dissolving or burning.
Furthermore, a mixture can be reversed, or separated, after being combined.

A homogeneous mixture (from the root “homo” meaning same) has uniform composition throughout. Furthermore,
in a homogeneous mixture, all substances exist in one state of matter. Liquids can be homogeneously mixed with
liquids, solids with solids, and so on.
On the other hand, a heterogeneous mixture (from the root “hetero” meaning different) has non-uniform
composition, meaning that there may be distinct regions with more or less of one component. Substances in a
heterogeneous mixture can exist in different states of matter at once – solid with liquid or liquid with gas, for
example.
Examples of homogeneous mixtures
Saltwater
If salt dissolves in water, it disperses evenly throughout the water. Note that seawater can be heterogeneous if pieces of
particulate matter are present, as in nature.
Coffee, milk
These drinks consist of many chemicals dissolved in water, spread evenly like in saltwater. However, when milk curdles,
it becomes a heterogeneous mixture.
Cement, glue
These are homogeneous mixtures of chemicals that set (harden) on drying or exposure to other special conditions. They
may have other things added which could make them heterogeneous (see “Concrete” below)
Bronze, steel
These are alloys, made by mixing copper and tin (for bronze) or iron and carbon (for steel). Because the resulting
mixtures do not have distinguishable regions of each component, they are homogeneous.
Air
Air is a mixture of gases spread evenly throughout the atmosphere. Because gas molecules are distant from one another,
they always mix evenly and do not form heterogeneous mixtures.

Examples of heterogeneous mixtures

 Sand
Sand usually consists of many different types and sizes of particles, including different minerals and pockets of air in
between grains (or water if wet sand)
 Oil and water
Most oils do not mix well with water, so they have heterogeneous regions of mostly oil and mostly water
 Salad
Salads contain many distinguishable components: vegetables, cheese, chicken, dressing, or others
 Granite
Granite, a common type of rock, consists of grains of multiple minerals, like quartz, mica and feldspar. The grains
are distinguishable, so this is a heterogeneous mixture.
 Concrete
Concrete has pieces of gravel dispersed in it which are distinguishable from the surrounding material (cement) that
holds them together. Sometimes these particles are as large as small stones.
 Vegetable soup
Similar to a salad, a soup is not homogeneous because there are many distinguishable parts. Even if you blend it up,
it will not be homogeneous on a molecular level.
 Opened soda
An open soda is a heterogeneous mixture because gases in the drink begin to come out of solution when it
depressurizes. This results in the formation of gas bubbles, which are distinguishable from the surrounding drink.

 a pure substance consists only of one element or one compound

 Examples of pure substances include tin, sulfur, diamond, water, pure sugar (sucrose), table salt
(sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Crystals, in general, are pure substances. Tin,
sulfur, and diamond are examples of pure substances that are chemical elements.
 All elements are mostly pure substances. A few of them include gold, copper, oxygen, chlorine, diamond,
etc. Compounds such as water, salt or crystals, baking soda amongst others are also grouped as pure
substances.

Elements

Elements – Elements constitute the simplest chemical substances in which all the atoms are
exactly the same.

Compounds – Compounds are chemical substances made up of two or more elements that
are chemically bound together in a fixed ratio.

Compound Name Compound Formula

Alcohol C2H6O

Acetic Acid C2H4O2

Sulphuric Acid H2SO4

Ammonia NH3

Methane CH4

Nitrous oxide N2O

Salt NaCl