Mixtures and Solutions

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Pure Substance Noun

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[pyoor sub-stans]

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Pure Substance

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A type of matter made up of only one kind of particle, which can be either an element or a compound.

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Example: This bar of 99.99% pure gold is an element, which is a type of pure substance because it is made of only one kind of atom.

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Element Noun

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[el-uh-muhnt]

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Element

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A pure substance consisting of only one kind of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

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Example: This diagram shows a model of a single sodium atom, illustrating that an element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom.

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Compound Noun

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[kom-pound]

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Compound

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A pure substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio.

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Example: This diagram shows a molecule of carbon dioxide (CO₂), where one carbon atom is chemically bonded to two oxygen atoms to form a compound.

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Molecule Noun

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[mol-i-kyool]

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Molecule

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The smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of that substance, made of bonded atoms.

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Example: This image shows a single water molecule (H₂O), which is made of two hydrogen (H) atoms chemically bonded to one oxygen (O) atom.

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Mixture Noun

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[miks-cher]

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Mixture

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A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded and can be separated by physical means.

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Example: This image shows how a mixture is formed by combining two substances, salt and water, which are physically mixed together but not chemically changed.

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Heterogeneous Mixture Noun

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[het-er-uh-jee-nee-uhs miks-cher]

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Heterogeneous Mixture

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A mixture in which the components are not uniformly distributed and different parts can be visibly distinguished from one another.

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Example: Muddy water is a heterogeneous mixture; over time, the insoluble mud particles settle to the bottom, showing that the components are not evenly mixed.

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Homogeneous Mixture Noun

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[hoh-muh-jee-nee-uhs miks-cher]

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Homogeneous Mixture

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A mixture in which the components are uniformly distributed and cannot be distinguished, also known as a solution.

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Example: This diagram shows a solution, a type of homogeneous mixture, where solute particles are evenly distributed among solvent particles, making the mixture look uniform.

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Solution Noun

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[suh-loo-shuhn]

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Solution

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A type of homogeneous mixture where one substance, the solute, is dissolved evenly into another substance, the solvent.

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Example: This diagram shows a solution, where solute particles are evenly mixed into a solvent, creating a homogeneous mixture.

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Solute Noun

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[sol-yoot]

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Solute

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The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, typically present in a smaller amount.

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Example: This image shows a sugar cube, the solute, which is the substance that gets dissolved in a liquid, the solvent (water), to form a solution.

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Solvent Noun

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[sol-vuhnt]

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Solvent

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The substance in which a solute dissolves to form a solution; it is the dissolving medium in the mixture.

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Example: The image explains that a solvent is the substance present in the larger amount in a solution, contrasting it with the solute, which is in a lesser amount.