What Are the Characteristics That Distinguish Compounds from Mixtures?

Compounds and mixtures are both types of matter, but they are quite different from each other.

Compound: This is when two or more elements come together in a specific way to make something new.
Mixture: This is when two or more substances are combined but still keep their individual characteristics. The parts can change in amount.

Composition:
- Compounds: They have a fixed makeup. This is often shown with a chemical formula. For example, water (H₂O) has 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.
- Mixtures: They can have different amounts of each substance. For instance, a mix of salt and sand can have more or less salt each time.
Separation:
- Compounds: To split them back into their original elements, you must use chemical reactions. For example, you can use a process called electrolysis to break water into hydrogen and oxygen gas.
- Mixtures: These can be separated easily using physical methods like filtering or boiling.
Properties:
- Compounds: They have different properties from the individual elements. For instance, sodium is a dangerous metal and chlorine is a harmful gas, but when combined, they create table salt (NaCl), which is safe to eat.
- Mixtures: They keep the same properties as their individual parts. For example, if you mix iron filings and sulfur, the iron still acts like iron and is magnetic.

These differences in how they are made, how they can be separated, and their properties show what makes compounds and mixtures unique in chemistry.

Compounds and mixtures are both types of matter, but they are quite different from each other.

Compound: This is when two or more elements come together in a specific way to make something new.
Mixture: This is when two or more substances are combined but still keep their individual characteristics. The parts can change in amount.

Composition:
- Compounds: They have a fixed makeup. This is often shown with a chemical formula. For example, water (H₂O) has 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.
- Mixtures: They can have different amounts of each substance. For instance, a mix of salt and sand can have more or less salt each time.
Separation:
- Compounds: To split them back into their original elements, you must use chemical reactions. For example, you can use a process called electrolysis to break water into hydrogen and oxygen gas.
- Mixtures: These can be separated easily using physical methods like filtering or boiling.
Properties:
- Compounds: They have different properties from the individual elements. For instance, sodium is a dangerous metal and chlorine is a harmful gas, but when combined, they create table salt (NaCl), which is safe to eat.
- Mixtures: They keep the same properties as their individual parts. For example, if you mix iron filings and sulfur, the iron still acts like iron and is magnetic.

These differences in how they are made, how they can be separated, and their properties show what makes compounds and mixtures unique in chemistry.

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