Homogeneous mixtures: definition of the concept, composition, examples

Chemistry studies substances and their properties. When mixed, mixtures arise that acquire new valuable qualities.

What is a mixture

A mixture is called the aggregate of individual substances. They are manufactured not only by scientists in laboratories under certain conditions. Every day we start with a fragrant tea or coffee, in which we add sugar. Or cook a delicious soup, which must be salted. This is the real mixture. Only we do not think about it at all.

If it is impossible to distinguish particles of substances with the naked eye, homogeneous mixtures (homogeneous) before you. They can be obtained by dissolving the same sugar in tea or coffee.

But if you add sand to the sugar, their particles can be easily distinguished. Such a mixture is considered heterogeneous or heterogeneous.

Inhomogeneous mixtures

In the manufacture of mixtures of this type, substances that are in a different aggregate state can be used : solid or liquid. A mixture of ground pepper of different kinds or other seasonings are often just inhomogeneous dry compositions.

If any liquid is used in the preparation of a heterogeneous product, the resulting mass is called a slurry. And they are divided into several types. When mixing the liquid with solids , suspensions form. Their example is a mixture of water with sand or clay. When a builder produces cement, the cook mixes the flour with water, the child cleans teeth with toothpaste - they all use suspensions.

Another variety of heterogeneous mixtures can be obtained by mixing two liquids. Naturally, if their particles are distinguishable. Kapnite vegetable oil in water - and get an emulsion.

Homogeneous mixtures

The most famous of this group of substances is air. Each student knows that a number of gases are included in his composition: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor and impurities. Can they be seen and discerned with the naked eye. Of course not.

Thus, both air and sweet water are homogeneous mixtures. They can be in different aggregate states. But most often liquid homogeneous mixtures are used. They consist of their solvent and solute. And the first component is either liquid, or taken in a larger volume.

Substances can not dissolve in an infinite amount. For example, in a liter of water, you can add only two kilograms of sugar. Further, this process simply will not happen. Such a solution will become saturated.

An interesting phenomenon is a solid homogeneous mixture. Thus, hydrogen is easily distributed in various metals. The intensity of the dissolution process depends on many factors. It increases with increasing temperature of the liquid and air, with the grinding of substances and as a result of their mixing.

Surprising is the fact that there are no absolutely insoluble substances in nature. Even silver ions are distributed between water molecules, forming a homogeneous mixture. Such solutions are widely used in everyday life and human life. For example, everyone's favorite and useful milk is a homogeneous mixture.

Methods for separating mixtures

Sometimes it becomes necessary not only to obtain homogeneous solutions, but also to separate the homogeneous mixtures. Let's say that there is only salt water in the house, but you need to get its crystals separately. For this, a similar mass is evaporated. Uniform mixtures, the examples of which were given above, are most often separated in this way.

Based on differences in boiling temperature, distillation is based. Everyone knows that water begins to evaporate at 100 degrees Celsius, and ethyl alcohol at 78. A mixture of these liquids is heated. First, vapors evaporate. They condense, that is, they are transferred to a liquid state, in contact with any cooled surface.

With the help of a magnet, mixtures containing metals are separated. For example, iron and wood sawdust. Vegetable oil and water can be separately obtained by settling.

Heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures, examples of which are illustrated in the article, are of great economic importance. Minerals, air, groundwater, seas, food, building materials, beverages, pastes - all this is a combination of individual substances, without which life would simply be impossible.