1.

Mixtures (Impure Substances)

A mixture is made up of two or more different chemical substances which are not combined
chemically. The substances in a mixture are called its components or constituents.
Examples: Air, Lemonade, Gunpowder

Properties of a Mixture
• Formed by a physical change; shows the properties of all its constituents.
• Can be separated by simple physical methods (filtration, evaporation, etc.).
• Does not have a fixed melting or boiling point.
• May be homogeneous or heterogeneous.
• Has a variable chemical composition — no fixed chemical formula.
( A compound is formed as a result of a chemical change & its properties are entirely different from
those of its constituents)

Types of Mixtures

Type Composition Characteristics Examples

Homogeneous All Components Components Sugar in water,
mixed together indistinguishable; also Vinegar, Alloys
Uniformly called true solutions
Heterogeneous All Components Visible boundaries between Sand + Water, Oil +
not mixed components Water, Gunpowder
uniformly

Alloys —Mixtures of two or more metals (or a metal and a non-metal).

• Cannot be separated by physical methods, yet considered mixtures because:
1. Composition is variable.
2. They show properties of constituents.
Example: Brass ≈ 70% Copper + 30% Zinc

2. Solutions
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more chemically non-reacting substances whose
composition can vary within certain limits. A solution with only two components is called a binary
solution.

Components of a Binary Solution

Solute: Component present in lesser quantity; dissolves in the solvent.
Solvent: Component present in larger quantity; dissolves the solute.
Example: Sugar (solute) dissolved in Water (solvent) → Sugar solution
Properties of Solutions
• Homogeneous mixture.
• Particle size < 1 nm (10⁻⁹ m) — cannot be seen with the naked eye or a microscope.
• Particles pass through filter paper.
• Do not scatter light — no Tyndall effect.
• Stable — particles do not settle when allowed to stand undisturbed.
• Transparent (may be coloured or colourless).

Classification of Solutions depending upon the nature of Solvent

Type Solvent State
Solid solution Solid
Liquid solution Liquid
Gaseous solution Gas

Types of Binary Solutions

Name Solute Solvent Example
Solid in Solid Solid Solid Bronze (Cu + Sn)
Liquid in Solid Liquid Solid Dental amalgam (Hg in Ag)
Gas in Solid Gas Solid H₂ adsorbed on Pd/Pt
Solid in Liquid Solid Liquid Salt solution
Liquid in Liquid Liquid Liquid Vinegar (acetic acid in water)
Gas in Liquid Gas Liquid Soda water (CO₂ in water)
Solid in Gas Solid Gas Camphor in air
Liquid in Gas Liquid Gas Water vapour in air
Gas in Gas Gas Gas Air (O₂ in N₂)

3. Concentration of a Solution
The concentration of a solution is the amount of solute present in a given amount (mass or volume)
of solution or solvent.

Concentration = Amount of solute / Amount of solution

Types Based on Concentration

Type Description
Dilute solution Small amount of solute in a large amount of solvent.
Concentrated solution Large amount of solute in a given solvent.
 Type Description
Saturated solution No more solute can dissolve at a given temperature.
Unsaturated solution More solute can still dissolve at a given temperature.
Supersaturated solution Contains more dissolved solute than a saturated solution at the
same temperature.

Expressing Concentration — Formulae

w/w % (Mass by Mass) = (Mass of solute in g / Mass of solution in g) × 100

w/v % (Mass by = (Mass of solute in g / Volume of solution in mL) × 100

Volume)

v/v % (Volume by = (Volume of solute in mL / Volume of solution in mL) ×

Volume) 100

Note: Concentration of a solution has no units. Percentage refers to amount of solute in 100 mL of
solution, not 100 mL of solvent.

4. Solubility
The amount of the solute present in a saturated solution at a given temperature is called its solubility

Effect of Temperature and Pressure on Solubility

System Temperature Effect Pressure Effect
Gases in Liquids Solubility decreases as T Solubility increases as P
increases increases
Solids in Liquids Solubility generally increases as No significant effect
T increases

5. Suspension
A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which particles do not dissolve but remain suspended
throughout the bulk of the medium.
Examples: Chalk powder in water; Wheat flour in water; Muddy water

Properties of a Suspension
• Heterogeneous mixture.
• Particle size > 1000 nm — visible to the naked eye.
• Particles cannot pass through filter paper.
• Scatters a beam of light (shows Tyndall effect).
• Unstable — particles settle at the bottom on standing.
• Opaque or translucent.
 6. Colloids
A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture in which the particle size is between that of a true solution
and a suspension. It has two phases: the dispersed phase (Solute like component, discontinuous) and
the dispersion medium (In which dispersed phase is suspended, continuous).
Examples: Fog, Cloud, Paint, Milk, Chocolate shake, blood, ink, starch solution etc

Properties of Colloids
1. Heterogeneous Nature
• Consists of a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium.
2. Stability
• Colloidal particles do not settle under gravity; colloids are stable.
3. Filterability: 1 nm to 1000 nm (1 μm)
• Pass through ordinary filter paper.
• Can be separated by ultra filtration (special membranes with very small pores).
4. Mechanical(Brownian Movement)
• Colloidal particles show continuous random zig-zag motion.
• Caused by collisions between colloidal particles and molecules of the dispersion medium.
5. Optical (Tyndall Effect)
• A strong beam of light passing through a colloid becomes visible (path of light is seen).
• Caused by scattering of light by the colloidal particles.
Examples: Car headlights in fog; Sunlight entering a dusty room; Stage light beams in smoke
6. Electrical Property (Electrophoresis)
• Colloidal particles carry a positive or negative charge.
• In an electric field, they migrate towards the opposite electrode — this is called
Electrophoresis.

Applications of Colloids
Food
• Milk, Butter, Cream, Ice cream
Medicines
• Many pharmaceutical preparations are colloidal; colloidal calcium and gold used medicinally.
Industrial
• Soap, Paints, Varnishes, Enamels, Resins, Cellulose products
7. Comparison: True Solution vs Colloid vs Suspension
Property True Solution Colloid Suspension
Nature Homogeneous Heterogeneous Heterogeneous
(appears
homogeneous)
Particle Size < 1 nm 1–1000 nm > 1000 nm
Visibility Not visible Not visible to naked Visible to naked eye
eye
Tyndall Effect No Yes Yes
Stability Stable Stable Unstable
Settling Does not settle Does not settle Settles on standing
Filtration Passes through Passes through Does not pass through
filter paper ordinary filter paper filter paper
Transparency Transparent Translucent Opaque
Examples Salt in water, Milk, Paint, Fog Chalk powder in water,
Sugar in water Muddy water