Mixture or Solution?

Front

What is a mixture?

Back

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances where each substance retains its own properties. Examples include salad, sand and salt, or a fruit smoothie.

Front

What is a solution?

Back

A solution is a special type of mixture where one substance (the solute) is completely dissolved in another substance (the solvent). An example is saltwater.

Front

Can you separate the components of a mixture easily?

Back

Yes, the components of a mixture can usually be separated by physical means, such as filtering or using a magnet.

Front

Can you separate the components of a solution easily?

Back

No, the components of a solution cannot be separated by physical means because the solute is dissolved in the solvent.

Front

What is an example of a solid mixture?

Back

An example of a solid mixture is a bowl of nuts and bolts.

Front

What is an example of a liquid solution?

Back

An example of a liquid solution is lemonade, where sugar is dissolved in water.

Front

What is a solvent?

Back

A solvent is the substance in which the solute dissolves. In saltwater, water is the solvent.

Front

What is a solute?

Back

A solute is the substance that is dissolved in a solution. In saltwater, salt is the solute.

Front

Is air a mixture or a solution?

Back

Air is a mixture because it contains different gases (like oxygen and nitrogen) that are not chemically combined.

Front

Is sugar water a mixture or a solution?

Back

Sugar water is a solution because the sugar is completely dissolved in the water.