Question

Select all the statements that correctly describe a mixture.

1) A mixture is a combination of two or more substances.
2) The substances in a mixture can be separated by physical means.
3) Mixtures have fixed compositions.
4) Mixtures can be homogeneous or heterogeneous.

Answer 1

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded and can vary in composition. Substances in a mixture can be separated using physical methods and mixtures may be homogeneous or heterogeneous in nature. Statement 3 is incorrect because mixtures do not have a fixed composition.

Step-by-step explanation:

To address the question about mixtures, we can evaluate each statement that was provided:

1. A mixture is a combination of two or more substances, where the substances are not chemically bonded to each other and no chemical reaction occurs between the substances.
2. The substances in a mixture can be separated by physical means, such as filtration, distillation, or evaporation.
3. Mixtures do not have fixed compositions, meaning the proportion of substances within a mixture can vary.
4. Mixtures can be either homogeneous, showing the same uniform composition and appearance throughout, or heterogeneous, where the different components are visibly distinguishable and the composition varies.

Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 correctly describe a mixture while statement 3 does not, since mixtures do not have a fixed composition.