Difference Between Compound and Mixture - Overview, Properties, Examples, FAQs
Have you ever noticed that salt dissolved in water behaves differently from salt itself? Why does water formed from hydrogen and oxygen have properties completely unlike either gas? What makes the components of air easy to separate, while the elements in water cannot be separated by simple physical methods? You will get these answers by understanding the difference between a compound and a mixture. When two or more compounds are combined without the involvement of chemical reactions, a substance is called a mixture. The effect produced by a combination of substances does not lose its identity and does not mix chemically. Blends are a single product of mechanical compounds or chemical compounds, such as compounds and elements. Is sand a compound, no , it is a mixture.
This Story also Contains
- Properties of a Mixture
- Examples of Mixtures
- Compounds
- Elements
- Some Solved Examples
Properties of a Mixture
Mixtures are made of two or more compounds that can be chemically synthesized.
The characteristics of the mixtures are listed below...
1. The parts of each compound maintain their original properties.
2. Genetic separation can be easily done.
3. The number of items varies.
Examples of Mixtures
1. Crude Oil: A Blend of Organic Chemicals (especially hydrocarbons)
2. Seawater: A mixture of salt and water.
3. Air: a mixture of various gases such as oxygen, argon, nitrogen, neon, carbon dioxide, etc.
4. Ink: A combination of colored dyes.
5. Gunpowder: A mixture of Sulphur , carbon and potassium nitrate
There are two main types of Mixtures: Homogeneous mixture and Heterogeneous mixture.
The types of mixtures are…
1. Heterogeneous Mixture
A mixture of sand mixed with salt is an example of a mixture. Heterogeneous mixtures have different properties and structures in different parts
e.g. structures are not equal in all mixtures.
Examples of Heterogeneous mixtures - air, oil water, etc.
Also read :
2. Homogeneous Mixture
Water mixed with water is the most common example of a homogeneous mixture. The same mixes
Examples of Homogeneous mixture - alloys, salt and water, alcohol in water, etc.
Characteristics of Mixtures
- Composite mixtures are not available at the prescribed rate. The various characteristics of the mixtures are discussed below.
- There are no chemical forces at work between these two or more compounds, but they still exist together.
- They can be heterogeneous or homogeneous in nature.
- The size of the objects varies in an unknown way.
- The characteristics of the combination depend on the individual characteristics.
- Compound elements can be classified by physiological mechanisms.
- The point of boiling and the melting point of the mixture depend on the element of the elements.
- During the formation of the mixture, there is no change in strength.
- All aspects of matter (solids, liquids, gases) can combine to form compounds.
- It can be concluded that almost everything around us is nothing but a combination. For example, the food we eat is a mixture of ingredients, the air we breathe is a mixture of gases and the fuel we use in locomotives is a great mixture.
Compounds
Compounds are chemical substances made from two or more compounds that are chemically synthesized together in a specified amount.
Chemistry is the study of the structural, physical, and chemical properties of materials.
They are all different in the way they are built. This is the reason class separation is so important. Is water a compound or a mixture; it is a compound.
When two or more elements are chemically synthesized to a specific size, the resulting product is known as a composite. Chemicals can be defined as substances that contain 2 or more different types of substances in the exact proportions of its atoms. When the elements combine, some material is lost and the newly formed compound has new properties.
Types of Compounds
-
Ionic compounds – formed by transfer of electrons
Example: NaCl, CaO -
Covalent compounds – formed by sharing of electrons
Example: H₂O, CH₄ -
Coordinate compounds – shared electrons donated by one atom
Example: NH₄⁺ -
Organic compounds – contain carbon
Example: Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) -
Inorganic compounds – generally do not contain carbon
Example: H₂SO₄, NaOH
Example of Compounds
Examples of chemical compounds (H2O), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), etc.
Examples of some of the most widely used chemicals and their formulas:
Alcohol - C2H6O
Acetic Acid - C2H4O2
Sulfuric Acid - H2SO4
Ammonia - NH3
Methane - CH4
Nitrous oxide - N2O
Salt - NaCl
Related Topics
Elements
We can define elements as types of atoms with the same number of protons in their atomic nuclei.
Examples of elements
Elements exist in their simplest form and cannot be broken down continuously. Therefore, elements can exist in the form of ions, atoms, isotopes , and molecules.
Examples of some commonly used substances and their chemical properties:
Feature name Chemical symbol
Hydrogen (H)
Boron (B)
Carbon (C)
Silicon (Si)
Sodium (Na)
Lead (Pb)
Platinum (Pt)
Also read -
Some Solved Examples
Question 1: Which of the following statements is true for a compound but not for a mixture?
A. Components can be separated physically
B. Composition is variable
C. Components are present in a fixed mass ratio
D. Properties of components are retained
Solution:
A compound has a fixed composition by mass, whereas a mixture has a variable composition.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C)
Question 2: Which method can be used to separate the components of a compound?
A. Filtration
B. Distillation
C. Sublimation
D. Electrolysis
Solution:
Compounds can be decomposed only by chemical methods such as electrolysis, while mixtures are separated physically.
Hence, the correct answer is option (D)
Question 3: Which of the following shows entirely new properties compared to its constituents?
A. Air
B. Brass
C. Salt solution
D. Sodium chloride
Solution:
Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a compound; its properties are completely different from sodium and chlorine.
Hence, the correct answer is option (D)
Question 4: Which of the following pairs represents a mixture?
A. $\mathrm{CO}_2$
B. $\mathrm{NH}_3$
C. Air
D. $\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}$
Solution:
Air is a mixture of gases with variable composition and no fixed chemical formula.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Mixtures are formed when two or more substances are physically combined without undergoing any chemical change. The components of a mixture can be separated by physical means such as filtration, distillation, or simple sorting.
Combination is something that has two or more elements. Water, carbon dioxide and table salt are some examples of chemicals.
There are two basic groups of chemicals. We are identified by the way compound atoms combine. Two such species are called "molecules" and "salts".
Combining two or more items creates a combination. No matter where you test us, the same solution comes out the same. Similar mixtures Sand, oil and water and noodle soup are examples of mixed mixtures.
Vinegar is a harmonious combination of water and acetic acid. It solves because the composite mixture has only one component. By combining two or more chemical compounds, compounds are formed. If the content has more than one category, it is called a combination.
A mixture is two or more simple substances in chemistry. Such substances may be compounds or chemical compounds. A mixture of beverages, solids, or gases can be made. When sugar is added to water, for example, form a mixture, and then melt to form a solution.
The two main groups can be divided into mixtures: complementary and distinct. The same combination is the same when all the combinations of its elements are equally combined.
No, the components of a compound cannot be separated by physical means. To separate them, a chemical reaction must occur, breaking the bonds that hold the elements together.
Yes, compounds have fixed compositions; the elements are combined in specific ratios. For example, in carbon dioxide (CO₂), there are always two oxygen atoms for every carbon atom.
Each component maintains its original physical and chemical properties. Also, it is usually easier to separate the components of each mixture. Finally, the proportion of components in each mixture varies.
