What is the difference between a mixture and a solution?

Question

Does it have anything to do with reversible and irreversible changes?

Answer 1

A solution is an homogenous mixture of two or more substances in which the molecules or atoms of the substances are completely dispersed. The constituents can be solids, liquids or gases. Mixture means the act of mixing or state of being mixed. Basically they are the same.

Answer 2

In chemistry, a mixture is the product of a mechanical blending or mixing of chemical substances like elements and compounds, without chemical bonding or other chemical change, so that each ingredient substance retains its own chemical properties and makeup. While there are no chemical changes in a mixture, physical properties of a mixture, such as its melting point, may differ from those of its components. Mixtures can usually be separated by mechanical means.

[edit] Types of mixtures
There are three different types of mixtures: homogeneous mixtures (also called solutions), heterogeneous mixtures, and colloidal dispersions.


[edit] Homogeneous mixtures
Homogeneous mixtures are mixtures that have definite, true composition and properties. For example, any amount of a given mixture has the same composition and properties. Examples are solutions and some alloys (but not all). Homogeneous mixtures can also be called "impure substances." A homogeneous mixture is a uniform mixture consisting of only one phase.


[edit] Solutions
Main article: Solution
One type of homogeneous mixture is a solution. A solution is a substance homogeneous mixture of two or more substances (the solutes) dissolved in another substance (the solvent). A common example would be a solid dissolving into a liquid(i.e. salt or sugar dissolving in water or gold into mercury). Liquids dissolve into one another, and sometimes liquids dissolve into gases, for example water vapor in the atmosphere. Common examples include soft drinks (like Coca-Cola and Sprite), where carbon dioxide is trapped in the soda through carbonation. examples include soda


[edit] Heterogeneous mixtures
Heterogeneous mixtures are mixtures without definite composition, for example, granite. Salad is a typical example of this kind of mixture. Heterogeneous mixtures are said to have several phases (not to be confused with phases of matter). An example is the parts of a heterogeneous composition, which can be mechanically separated from the rest. Examples include: salad, trail mix, milk (before homogenization).


[edit] Colloidal dispersions
Main article: Colloid
In general, a colloid or colloidal dispersion is a substance with components of one or two phases, a type of mixture intermediate between a homogeneous mixture and a heterogeneous mixture with properties also intermediate between the two. A colloid will not settle if left to sit. Examples are jello, glue, and semen.

Answer 3

A mixture is a combination of two or more chemical entities, in an unspecified ratio. The "ingredients" in a mixture are "miscible" i.e. they mix with no obvious separation, like if you add water to juice (as opposed to adding water to oil). Mixing is a physical process.

A solution is where one or more entities are dissolved within another, which is the solvent. An example is dissolving salt in water. Forming a solution is a chemical process.

My chemistry is a bit rusty, so I'm not going into detail on bond types as I might get it wrong and confuse you! (although I think there are no new bonds in a mixture). As far as reversibility is concerned, I could separate salt and water by evaporation, but I don't know how I'd separate water and juice... However, I think this example is misleading.

A mixture and a solution are NOT the same thing, and suspensions and emulsions are also different.

I'm not 100% sure I remember what homogeneous means. It's either "all in the same state" i.e. all gas, or all liquid, or "the same all the way through" i.e. evenly mixed. A mixture is usually homogeneous in state (two gases or two liquids, or even two solids), but if you mix two solids e.g. salt and sugar, you couldn't guarantee that two samples of the mixture would have identical ratios of the ingredients. A solution might start out heterogeneous (e.g. gas into liquid like oxygen in water, or solid into liquid like salt in water) but the result is homogeneous both in state and in concentration throughout.

Hope I've helped!

Answer 4

In chemistry, a mixture is the product of a mechanical blending or mixing of chemical substances like elements and compounds, without chemical bonding or other chemical change, so that each ingredient substance retains its own chemical properties and makeup. While there are no chemical changes in a mixture, physical properties of a mixture, such as its melting point, may differ from those of its components. Mixtures can usually be separated by mechanical means.

In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances, known as solutes, dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. A common example is a solid, such as salt or sugar, dissolved in water, a liquid. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. Liquids may dissolve in other liquids and gases always mix with other gases [1].

Examples of solid solutions are alloys, certain minerals and polymers containing plasticizers. The ability of one compound to dissolve in another compound is called solubility. The physical properties of compounds such as melting point and boiling point change when other compound are added. Together they are called colligative properties. There are several ways to quantify the amount of one compound dissolved in the other compounds collectively called concentration. Examples are molality and parts per million (ppm).

Solutions should be distinguished from other non-homogeneous mixtures such as colloids and suspensions.

Answer 5

Mixture is more commonly a combination of items that did not undergo chemical process, thereby they can be reversed and each item can be taken again. Solution is a mixture which underwent checmical process that it would take a chemical process again to get the original elements back.

Answer 6

A solution is a type of homogeneous mixture. All mixtures (and therefore all solutions) are physical combinations and can therefore be separated by physical means, making them all reversible.

Answer 7

no.. it is not realated to changes
a mixture is wen any two or more substances are mixed in any ratio and they are not homogeneous and the solution is a homogeneous mixture....

Answer 8

Sorry chem girl think I clicked the wrong vote button cant seem to undo it, good answer sorry for the bad vote

Answer 9

one's a suspension the others a blend