What is the Difference Between Mixture and Solution

Matter can be classified into mixtures and solutions. Both are ways to combine two or more substances. However, there’s a distinct difference between mixture and solution based on how the substances are mixed.

What is the difference between mixture and solution? A mixture is a blend of components together, not chemically combined, whereas a solution involves one substance dissolving in another substance.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Mixtures 
      – Definition, Features 
2. What are Solutions 
      – Definition, Features 
3. Similarities Between Mixture and Solution
      – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Mixture and Solution
      – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Mixture and Solution
      – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Mixture, Solution

What are Mixtures

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined. Mixtures are all around us, everywhere. Unlike chemical compounds, where ingredients undergo a reaction to form a new substance, the components in a mixture retain their individual properties. For example, in a bowl of cereal, the flakes, milk, and fruit all stay distinct even though they’re combined.

There are two main types of mixtures: homogenous mixtures and heterogeneous mixtures.  In heterogeneous mixtures, each component could be separately identified.  In homogenous mixtures, the mixture itself appears uniform throughout. An example of a heterogeneous mixture is the nuts in the peanut butter or the carrot chunks in the soup. An example of a heterogeneous mixture is a well-stirred cup of coffee or a glass of orange juice in which the individual components cannot be separately identified.

What are Solutions

A solution is a special type of homogeneous mixture where one substance (the solute) dissolves entirely in another substance (the solvent), forming a single phase. There are two main components in a solution: the solvent and the solute. The solute is the substance that dissolves (usually present in a smaller amount), whereas the solvent is the substance in which the solute dissolves (usually present in a larger amount). For example, consider salt water. Salt is the solute, whereas water, which is present in larger amounts, is the solvent.

Throughout the solution, the components are evenly distributed and indistinguishable. You cannot tell where the solute stops, and the solvent begins by simply looking at it. A solution exists as a single phase of matter, regardless of whether the starting materials are solids, liquids, or gases. For instance, sugar water is a liquid solution, even though sugar is a solid.

Examples of Solutions

• Air is a good solution for various different gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
• Saltwater, where salt is the solute and water is the solvent.
• Sugar water is a solution where sugar is the solute and water is the solvent.

Similarities Between Mixture and Solution

1. The formation of both mixtures and solutions involves a physical mixing process.
2. They can be made of solids, liquids, or gases.
3. Mixtures and solutions can be separated through physical means, such as filtration, distillation, or evaporation.

Difference Between Mixture and Solution

Definition

• A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined. A solution is a special type of homogeneous mixture where one substance (the solute) dissolves entirely in another substance (the solvent), forming a single phase.

Mixing

• Mixing in a mixture happens on a relatively larger scale. In a solution, the solutes dissolve at the molecular level.

Heterogeneous vs Homogeneous

• Mixtures can be heterogeneous (uneven) or homogeneous, while solutions are always homogeneous.

Nature

• The ratio of components in a mixture can vary widely. There is a limit to how much solute can dissolve in a solvent for a given solution.

Conclusion

Mixtures are combinations where each substance retains its individual properties and can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. Solutions, a subset of homogeneous mixtures, involve a solute dissolving completely in a solvent, forming a uniform single phase at the molecular level. This is the main difference between mixture and solution.

FAQ: Mixture and Solution

1. What is the difference between a solution and a solvent?

• In a solution, the solute is the substance that is dissolved, while the solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute. The solute is typically present in a smaller amount than the solvent.

2. What is water, a solvent, or a solution?

• Water is indeed a solvent. It has the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances, earning it the nickname “universal solvent.” This property allows water to form solutions with various solutes.

3.  Is milk a solution?

• Milk is a colloidal solution. A colloid is a type of mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another. In the case of milk, it is composed of various components such as water, proteins, fats, and sugars dispersed throughout the liquid.

4. Is salt a solute or solvent?

• Salt is the solute in a solution of saltwater. Water, in this case, is considered the solvent because it is the substance that dissolves the salt, creating the solution.

5. What are the solutes in the air?

• Air is a solution of many gases. Air contains gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases like argon, methane, and helium.

Reference:

1. “Mixture.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Solution Chemistry.” Encyclopedia Britannica.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Mixtures and Pure Substances 2×2” By John Trombley – Own work (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Blue Solution” By Voicu Dragoș – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia