Confused about Mixtures and Substances? Get Help Now!

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In summary, a mixture is a combination of two substances that can be either homogenous or heterogenous. A substance, on the other hand, has a definite and fixed composition and cannot be arbitrarily combined. Wood and sodium chloride were both classified as mixtures on a worksheet, but based on their definitions, they are actually substances. Wood is a mixture of various chemicals and compounds, while sodium chloride is a compound that cannot be physically broken down. Therefore, it is a substance.
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Imparcticle
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A mixture is defined as 2 substances that are arbitirarily combined. They are either homogenous or heterogenous.

A substance is defined as being homogenous and has definite, fixed composition that is NOT arbitrary.

On some classwork we did, this following was stated as being true:

wood is a...answer: mixture

sodium chloride is a... answer: mixture

I disagree; wood is a substance because it has a fixed composition by definition. And since sodium chloride is a compound, it is not a mixture either; it is a substance.
the choices for classification on the worksheet was "mixture" or "substance".
I am confused...please help.

thanx
 
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  • #2
Wood is not a substance. There is no chemical compound that can be called "wood". A wood is a large mixture of various chemicals and compounds.
 
  • #3
thank you!

How about sodium chloride then? it is a substance?
 
  • #4
Yes.. its ordinary table salt.
 
  • #5
Think of it this way, a substance can not be physicly broken down into somthing else.

A mixture can be physicly separated (Like filtering a mixture)
 

What is the difference between a mixture and a substance?

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are physically combined and can be separated by physical means, while a substance is a single type of matter that cannot be separated into other substances by physical means.

How can I tell if a substance is a mixture or a pure substance?

A pure substance has a constant composition and specific properties, while a mixture can vary in composition and has properties that are a combination of the substances it contains. You can determine if a substance is a mixture by performing tests to see if it can be separated into different components.

What are the different types of mixtures?

There are two main types of mixtures: homogeneous and heterogeneous. Homogeneous mixtures have a uniform composition and appearance throughout, while heterogeneous mixtures have visibly different components and can be separated into different phases.

How do mixtures and substances behave differently?

Mixtures retain the properties of their individual components and can be separated by physical means, while substances have unique properties and cannot be separated into other substances. Mixtures can also vary in their composition, while substances have a constant composition.

How can I separate a mixture into its components?

The separation method for a mixture depends on its type. Homogeneous mixtures can be separated by methods such as filtration, distillation, or chromatography. Heterogeneous mixtures can be separated by methods such as hand-picking, filtration, or centrifugation.

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