explain the difference between a mechanical mixture and a solution?

Question

also:

how is a pure substance different from a mechanical mixture or a solution?

Answer 1

Lets start with the pure substance. It is all the same element or compound. Solid, liquid or gas, the entire sample is exactly the same no matter where we look at it. It is considered homogeneous.

Two or more pure substances when mixed to become homogeneous are called a solution. Solutions can contain solids, liquids or gases but must be homogeneous (the same in all areas). Most important solutions contain one or more solids dissolved in a liquid. The solids are called solutes and the liquid is called the solvent. When the solutes are mixed with the solvent, the homogeneous solution is formed.

A mechanical mixture is a mix of substances where the final sample is not homogeneous. Sand is a good example. Even if fused into sandstone, some areas are different than other areas. These are called heterogeneous. Smoke floating in air is heterogeneous. It is also a mixture.

Impress your teacher with this example of a sample which contains only one element, but is still a mixture. Diamond dust mixed with graphite dust. Both diamond and graphite are made of pure carbon, yet the mixture is heterogeneous so it is a mechanical mixture.

Answer 2

Mixture Vs Solution

Answer 3

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RE:
explain the difference between a mechanical mixture and a solution?
also:

how is a pure substance different from a mechanical mixture or a solution?

Answer 4

Solution : added substance dissolves into the other, like sugar and water
Mechanical mixture: two substances remain intact and can be separated again, like water and rocks.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

everyting

Answer 8

nice answer!