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For chemistry, a mixture It is a set of two or more pure substances that come together without changing chemically.For this reason, it is possible to separate the various components of the mixtures by relatively common physical procedures, such as filtration wave distillation.
In nature there are many mixtures, with which we interact daily. One of them is the air that we breathe, which is made up of mostly nitrogen and oxygen molecules, although it also contains other substancessuch as carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc. The sea water is also a mixture, because we know that it contains Mineral salts, organic matter in suspension and living beings, among others.
- See also: Homogeneous mixtures and heterogeneous mixtures
Mix types
- Homogeneous mixtures: In these mixtures it is not possible to distinguish their components with the naked eye and not under microscopy, that is, the homogeneous mixtures do not present discontinuities and have uniform properties throughout. Homogeneous mixtures are known as solutions or solutions.
- Heterogeneous mixtures: These mixtures do present discontinuities that give rise to the formation of different distinguishable phases, generally, with the naked eye.
It is important to be clear that mixtures do not produce chemical reactions between the mixed elements. Analysis of a mixture can be performed qualitatively or quantitatively:
- Qualitative: It will be of interest to identify which substances are present in the mixture.
- Quantitative: It will be interesting to know the quantity or proportion in which these are found.
The Homogeneous mixtures They may be liquid, gaseous or solid. Always the one that determines the final state of the mixture is the solvent, not the solute.
Thus, for example, when one dissolves table salt (a solid) in water (a liquid), the resulting mixture is liquid. In this case, if one leaves evaporate all the water, you would get the salt you originally dissolved. If you mix sand and water, on the other hand, you will get a heterogeneous mixture. The sand will tend to form a layer at the bottom of the container.
Others Methods ofseparation of mixtures are the decantation, the crystallization, the centrifugation wave chromatography on thin plate. All of these procedures are very useful in research laboratories.
See: Information on Separation of Mixtures
Specific blends
- Examples of Gas Mixtures
- Examples of Gas Mixtures with Liquids
- Examples of Mixtures of Gases with Solids
- Examples of Mixtures of Solids with Liquids
Examples of mixtures
Twenty mixtures are listed below, by way of example (including homogeneous and heterogeneous):
- Baking soda in water - this is a homogeneous type mix, with various medicinal and culinary uses.
- Seawater - Although at first glance it looks like something uniform, it is a heterogeneous mixture, it usually has particles in suspension and its composition is highly variable. Its main component is sodium chloride (which gives it its characteristic saltiness), but it also contains other salts that are often used in cosmetics, the chemical industry, etc.
- Cooking oil mix - this is what oils made from more than one oleaginous species are called this; the most common mixture is sunflower oil and corn. They form a homogeneous mixture.
- Blood - it is a heterogeneous mixture composed of plasma, cells, hemoglobin and many other components.
- Toilet soap - it is also a heterogeneous mixture, it is achieved by combining salts of long chain fatty acids with flavoring components, colorants, glycerin, etc.
- Ground - this is an extremely heterogeneous mixture, it contains particles minerals, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, insects, roots and so on.
- Beer
- Cough syrup - Syrups are generally suspensions (a type of heterogeneous mixture), with small particles that do not dissolve completely, to which components such as thickeners, colorants, etc. are added.
- Water with sand - heterogeneous mixture, the sand decants and separates forming a lower phase.
- Coffee with sugar - If it is a soluble coffee, it will have a homogeneous mixture, with the sugar dissolved in it.
- Detergent in water - typically this is an emulsion, therefore a heterogeneous mixture.
- Diluted bleach - it is a homogeneous mixture widely used for cleaning and disinfection, also as a bleach. This mixture contains active chlorine.
- Alcohol for medicinal use - homogeneous mixture of ethanol in water, its concentration is normally expressed in degrees (the most common is alcohol 96 °)
- Tincture of iodine - used as a disinfectant
- Bronze - It is a mixture of copper and tin, called an alloy, which combines the properties of these elements.
- Mayonnaise - mixture of eggs, oil and some other components.
- Cement - A mixture of limestone and clay, it has the peculiarity of setting or hardening in contact with water, that is why it is used in construction.
- Hair dye
- Shoe ointment
- Milk
More information?
- Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures
- What are homogeneous mixtures?
- What are heterogeneous mixtures?
