Chapter 2: Is Matter Around Us Pure?
Types of Mixtures
Depending upon the nature of the components, we can have different types of mixtures.
Homogeneous vs Heterogeneous Mixtures
📝 Exam Tip: Draw particles evenly spread for homogeneous, clustered for heterogeneous
Homogeneous Mixtures (Solutions)
A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition throughout.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Same everywhere |
| Composition | Can vary |
| Examples | Salt in water, sugar in water |
Also called solutions — the colour and composition are the same throughout!
Heterogeneous Mixtures
A heterogeneous mixture contains physically distinct parts with non-uniform composition.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Different in different parts |
| Composition | Varies from place to place |
| Examples | Oil and water, salt and iron filings |
🧪 Activity: Copper Sulphate in Water
| Amount | Result |
|---|---|
| 1 spatula | Light blue solution |
| 2 spatulas | Dark blue solution |
Both are homogeneous but with different concentrations!
Three Types of Mixtures - Comparison Diagram
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PARTICLE SIZE COMPARISON │
├──────────────┬──────────────────┬───────────────────────┤
│ SOLUTION │ COLLOID │ SUSPENSION │
├──────────────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────┤
│ < 1 nm │ 1-1000 nm │ > 1000 nm │
│ · · · · │ • • • • • │ ● ● ● ● │
│ invisible │ Tyndall effect │ visible │
│ stable │ stable │ unstable │
└──────────────┴──────────────────┴───────────────────────┘
📝 Draw this diagram in exams to show differences clearly!