Solutions/Mixtures Notes
Mixture: a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined
Types of mixtures
Heterogeneous Mixtures
The amount of each substance in different samples of a heterogeneous mixture varies.
Example(s):
A suspension is a mixture in which large particles of a material are more or less evenly
dispersed throughout a liquid or gas.
Example(s):
Particles in a suspension may settle over time, and may be filtered out
Some combinations of liquids will not mix, but will separate spontaneously.
Example(s):
Liquids that do not mix with each other are immiscible.
One way to separate two immiscible liquids is to carefully pour the less dense liquid off the
top. This is called decanting.
A colloid is a mixture consisting of tiny particles that are intermediate in size
between those in solutions and those in suspensions and that are suspended in a liquid,
solid or gas.
Particles in a colloid are too small to settle out
However, particles in a colloid are large enough to scatter light that passes through: this is
called the Tyndall effect.
Examples of familiar materials that are colloids include gelatin desserts, egg whites,
and blood plasma
Somme immiscible liquids can form colloids
An emulsion is any mixture of two or more immiscible liquids in which one liquid is
dispersed in the other.
Homogeneous Mixtures
Homogeneous mxitures not only look uniform, but are uniform.
Example(s):
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances uniformly dispersed
throughout a single phase.
In a solution, the solute is the substance that dissolves in the solvent.
The solvent is the substance in which the solute dissolves.
Miscible liquids mix to form solutions.
One way to separate miscible liquids is by distillation, which works when the two
miscible liquids have different boiling points
Water is a common solvent, but some liquid solutions contain no water.
Example(s):
Other states of matter can also form solutions
The air you breathe is a solution of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases.
The liquid element mercury dissolves in solid silver to form a solution called an
amalgam, which can be used to fill cavities in teeth.
An alloy is a solid or liquid mixture of two or more metals.