An Overview of Mixtures and Compounds; Their Types and Differences

Elements around us are not in their rawest form; they got their existence after coming in contact with various other elements. 

Everything that has existence is made up of matter, and that matter is divided between two major components: mixtures and compounds. 

In this section, we are going to discuss mixture and compounds with the help of examples. After that, to better understand the topic, we will discuss the difference between compounds and mixtures. 

Mixtures: An Overview

Mixtures are those substances that are formed after a combination of two or more elements. Like, the air in the atmosphere, gases, a mixture of water and sugar, etc. Some common characteristics of mixtures are as follows:

• We can separate them with the help of physical processes. 
• The elements used at the time of combining to make a mixture do not lose their properties. 
• The previous elements have some of their qualities in the newly formed substance. 
• The elements are not required to maintain any kind of mass ratio to combine to form a mixture. 

Let’s discuss some examples related to mixtures: 

1. A mixture of oil and water 
2. A mixture of sand and water 
3. A mixture of fog and smoke 
4. A mixture of sand and air
5. Dye- Mixture of colours 
6. Gunpowder- a mixture of Sulfur, potassium nitrate and carbon

Compounds: An overview 

When two or more substances combine and form a completely different product, they are called Compounds. However, there are certain rules for the combination of substances to make a compound, as follows: 

• The elements should mix chemically, and their mass ratio should not change while going through the process. 
• The new element formed must’ve completely different properties from the elements used while mixing them. 

Chemical Formula plays a very crucial role in combining the elements to form a compound. The chemical formula is a mere symbolic representation of the compounds.  For example, the symbolic representation of compound water, which is hydrogen and oxygen, is H2O.

We will now discuss some examples of Compounds:

1. Salt- Formula: NaCl = Sodium Chloride

Sodium chloride, popularly known as common salt, is formed when one atom of sodium combines with one atom of chloride to create a simple ionic compound. The ratio of atoms required to form the compound is 1:1. 

2. Baking Soda- Formula: NaHCO3 = Sodium Hydrogen Carbon Oxygen

The formation of sodium bicarbonate is a two-step process. Firstly, carbon dioxide reacts with an aqueous solution of hydroxide. As a result, we get sodium carbonate, and that sodium carbonate again reacts with carbon dioxide molecules to form sodium bicarbonate. The ratio of atoms required to form the compound is 1:1:1:3. 

3. Ammonia- Formula: NH3 = Nitrogen Hydrogen  

This one is a type of pure compound that can be formed with the help of one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of hydrogen. The ratio of atoms required to form the compound is 1:3. 

4. Glucose- Formula: C6H12O6 = Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen 

The glucose compound is formed with the help of three other elements, Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The ratio of atoms required to form the compound is 1:2:1. 

Compounds and mixtures come in different forms. Let’s discuss the types of compounds and mixtures. 

Different types of mixtures and compound

• Types of mixtures:

Mixtures can be categorized into two types, heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures. 

1. Heterogeneous mixtures- A mixture that has a definite composition of constituents throughout the mixture. Saltwater can be termed a homogeneous mixture because it usually has a proper composition of salt and water. 
2. Homogeneous mixtures- A mixture that doesn’t have any kind of definite proportion is called a homogeneous mixture.  The mixed items can easily be separated from each other. A mixture of smoke and fog which creates smog is a relevant example of a homogeneous mixture.

• Types of compounds:

Compounds can be divided into two different types, molecular compounds and salts. 

1. Molecular compounds- These compounds are combined with the help of covalent bonds of atoms. Covalent bonds form between nonmetals only. Example: 
2. Salts- These compounds are combined with ionic bonds. Ionic bond forms when a metal exchanges its electrons with a non-metal.  Example: NaCl (Common salt). 

Understanding the Difference between Mixtures and Compounds

To understand things better, it is important to differentiate them. Following is a table to give you an overview of how mixtures and compounds are different. 

Basis of difference	Mixtures	Compounds
Definition	Formation of new substance after mixing two or more substances with the help of physical methods.	A substance is obtained after chemically mixing two or more substances.
Properties	Properties of mixtures can vary from mixture to mixture due to the variety of substances that can be used in making a mixture.	Properties of compounds are definite and certain because the substances are combined in a definite proportion.
Formation of new substances	No new substances can be obtained in mixtures. Old elements possess unchangeable properties.	New substances are formed in the case of compounds. The reason behind this is the involvement of chemical processes.
Composition	There is no fixed composition in the case of Mixtures.	Substances are fixed in a constant ratio. We can’t change the ratio to form the desired compound.
Process of separation	Mixtures can easily be separated with the help of physical methods.	The separation of compounds isn’t a simple task. It can’t be separated with the help of physical methods.
Nature	Mixtures can be both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous.	Compounds are homogeneous.
Category	Mixtures are impure substances.	These substances are pure.
Melting point and boiling point	Mixtures don’t have any defined melting and boiling points.	Compounds have definite measurements of Melting and Boiling points.
Types	Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures.	Ionic and covalent compounds.
Examples	Mixtures of salt and water, smoke and fog, and gunpowder are a few examples of Mixtures.	Water, glucose, and common salt are some examples of compounds.

Conclusion 

Every substance we see around us is a result of a combination of two more elements. As we read, we can obtain such substances through chemical and physical methods. To better understand mixtures and compounds, students can focus on reading the examples and revising the difference between the two.