Types of Mixtures

Front

Mixture Noun

---

[miks-cher]

Back

Mixture

---

A combination of two or more pure substances in which each substance retains its individual chemical properties.

---

Example: This diagram shows a solution, a type of mixture where one substance (the solute, purple dots) is completely dissolved and evenly mixed into another (the solvent, blue dots).

Front

Homogeneous Mixture Noun

---

[hoh-moh-jee-nee-uhs miks-cher]

Back

Homogeneous Mixture

---

A mixture that has a uniform composition and appearance throughout and is also known as a solution.

---

Example: This diagram shows a solution, a type of homogeneous mixture, where solute particles are evenly distributed throughout the solvent, appearing as a single substance.

Front

Solution Noun

---

[suh-loo-shuhn]

Back

Solution

---

A homogeneous mixture containing two or more substances where the individual components cannot be visually distinguished.

---

Example: A solute (powder) dissolves in a solvent (liquid) to create a homogeneous mixture called a solution, where the solute is no longer visible.

Front

Solute Noun

---

[sol-yoot]

Back

Solute

---

The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.

---

Example: This diagram shows a sugar cube, the solute, which is the substance that gets dissolved in a solvent (water) to form a solution.

Front

Solvent Noun

---

[sol-vuhnt]

Back

Solvent

---

The dissolving medium in a solution, which is the substance in which the solute dissolves.

---

Example: This diagram shows water molecules (the solvent) breaking apart a crystal and surrounding its individual particles, causing it to dissolve and form a solution.

Front

Aqueous Solution Noun

---

[ey-kwee-uhs suh-loo-shuhn]

Back

Aqueous Solution

---

A solution in which the solvent is water, making it a very common type of liquid solution.

---

Example: A salt crystal (NaCl) breaks apart in water, forming positive (Na+) and negative (Cl-) ions that are surrounded by water molecules to create a solution.

Front

Soluble Adjective

---

[sol-yuh-buhl]

Back

Soluble

---

A property of a substance that describes its ability to dissolve in a given solvent to form a solution.

---

Example: A substance (solute), like the pink cubes, is soluble when it can dissolve in a liquid (solvent) to form a completely mixed solution.

Front

Insoluble Adjective

---

[in-sol-yuh-buhl]

Back

Insoluble

---

A property of a substance that describes its inability to dissolve in a given solvent.

---

Example: This image shows that when sand is mixed with water, it does not dissolve and settles at the bottom, demonstrating that sand is insoluble.

Front

Miscible Adjective

---

[mis-uh-buhl]

Back

Miscible

---

A property of two liquids that are completely soluble in each other in any proportion, forming a single phase.

---

Example: This image compares the molecular structures of carbon dioxide and water to explain polarity, which is a reason *why* some liquids mix, but it does not show miscibility itself.

Front

Immiscible Adjective

---

[ih-mis-uh-buhl]

Back

Immiscible

---

A property of two liquids that do not mix to form a homogeneous solution and will separate into distinct layers.

---

Example: This diagram shows that oil and water are immiscible because they do not mix, instead forming separate layers or suspensions of droplets in each other.