A mixture is a combination of 2 or more substances. It can easily be separated. For instance cereal is a mixture of the cereal and milk. Trail mix is a mixture of nuts, fruit, chocolated chips, and granola.
A solution is a special type of mixture. It involves a solid (solute) which is dissolved in a liquid (solvent). For instance, lemonade is a solution. It involves water, lemon, and sugar. A solution can still be separated into the individual substances, it is just a little harder. One must evaporate the liquid in order to have the solid by itself. The amount of solid mixed into the solvent and the amount of solvent also effects the concentration of the solution The more solid in the liquid, the more concentrated it is. The more liquid added to the solution, the less concentrated it is. For example, if you put a lot of Kool-Aid in water it will be very sweet and a dark color. It is concentrated. If you add more water it will be less concentrated (dilute) and be less sweet and a lighter color. |
MixtureA combination of 2 or more substances . Can be solids, liquids, or gas. Air is a mixture. All substances combined still retain all their original properties. Nothing new is created!
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SolutionsA solution is still a mixture but with a solid being dissolved into a liquid. Even though you cannot see the solid, it is till in the liquid keeping it's properties. Salt in water is still salt. Nothing is created!
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ConcentrationsThese glasses containing red dye demonstrate qualitative changes in concentration. The solutions on the left are more dilute, compared to the more concentrated solutions on the right.. |