Why is air a homogeneous mixture?

Question

Is air a solution or solvent because of the water vapours. Or a mixture of compounds. What ever it is please explain why.

Answer 1

You know that a solution is a homogeneous mixture and that in a homogeneous mixture, the solute is the substance that gets dissolved while the solvent is the substance that does the dissolving (of course you knew that). Solutions may involve any of the states of matter - we can have solutions of solids in liquids (what we usually think of), solids in gases (cigarette smoke), solids in solids (alloys), etc. Sometimes the solute can be more than the solvent, but usually the solute is the one that is present in smaller amount. Mixtures involving solids and liquids are interesting in that some of one substance can be soluble in another, but as the amount increases, we can reach a limit of solubility. Gases are not like that. Since by definition there is very little interaction between the particles of a gas, all gases are soluble in all other gases (they mix in all proportions or are miscible with each other). OK, enough generalities - air is a homogeneous mixture (solution) of nitrogen (N2) containing about 80% nitrogen, 19% oxygen (O2), 1% argon (Ar) and traces of other gases (including water vapor). Since it is homogeneous, the percentage of the usual gases is the same at the bottom of Death Valley as it is on the top of Mount Everest. Because of mixing problems, here around Los Angeles, we have some more (cough, cough) compounds dissolved in the mixture than they have in Des Moines, Iowa, but it will all be spread or precipitated eventually.

Answer 2

A homogeneous mixture may well be defined as a mix which shows an uniformity in visual charm and residences. Air is a homogeneous mixture. it is colourless, odoulress and shows each and all the residences of its constituent gases uniformly. Had this not been the case, we could have been gasping for breath at some places the place oxygen does not be recent!

Answer 3

It's a mixture of elements and compounds all in one phase (state), so it's homogenous. Unless it's raining, when it becomes heterogenous!