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What are pure substances and mixtures?


Pure Substances

  • A pure substance is made up of only one kind of particle (atoms or molecules).
  • It has uniform composition and definite properties throughout.
  • Cannot be separated into simpler substances by physical methods.
  • Two types:
    1. Elements → made of one kind of atom (e.g., gold, oxygen, hydrogen).
    2. Compounds → made of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio (e.g., water (H₂O), salt (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO₂)).
  • Examples: Iron, pure sugar, distilled water, oxygen gas.

Mixtures

  • A mixture is made up of two or more substances physically combined (not chemically bonded).
  • The substances retain their individual properties.
  • Can be separated by physical methods (like filtration, evaporation, or distillation).
  • Two types:
    1. Homogeneous Mixtures → uniform composition throughout (e.g., salt dissolved in water, air, lemonade).
    2. Heterogeneous Mixtures → non-uniform composition, substances can be seen separately (e.g., sand in water, salad, oil and water).
  • Examples: Air, soil, sugar in tea, milk.

Key Difference:

  • Pure substance = single type of particle, fixed composition (cannot be separated physically).
  • Mixture = combination of substances, variable composition (can be separated physically).

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