Cambridge O Level Chemistry · Syllabus 5070 · Atoms, Elements and Compounds
Mixture
What is Mixture?
Two or more substances that are together in the same place but are not chemically combined. The proportions of a mixture can vary, each component keeps its own chemical properties, and the components can be separated by physical methods rather than by a chemical reaction.
This definition is part of the Atoms, Elements and Compounds chapter in Cambridge O Level Chemistry.
Questions students ask about Mixture
What is the difference between an element, a compound and a mixture?
An element contains only one type of atom. Those atoms may be separate, as in argon, joined in molecules such as \(\mathrm{O_2}\), or joined in a giant structure such as diamond — it is still an element. A compound contains atoms of two or more different elements chemically bonded together, so it has its own properties and a fixed formula. A mixture contains two or more substances that are not chemically bonded, so each keeps its own properties and the substances can be separated by physical means.