Everything around us is made up of tiny particles that form
different types of matter. Understanding how these
particles combine to form mixtures, elements, and
compounds helps us appreciate the world around us. This
chapter explores how different substances come together
and their unique properties.
Mixtures
When two or more substances are mixed together, where
each substance retains its individual properties, it is called
a mixture. The individual substances that make up a
mixture are called its components. The components of a
mixture do not react chemically with each other.
Types of Mixtures Based on Visibility
Non-uniform Mixtures
Components are generally visible with the naked eye
or magnifying device
Different components can be easily identified and
separated
Examples include sprout salad with green gram,
chickpeas, onion, and tomato
Other examples are sand and water, oil and water
Uniform Mixtures
Components are evenly distributed and cannot be
distinguished
Cannot be seen separately even with microscope
Examples include sugar dissolved in water, air,
seawater
Components appear as single substance throughout
Alloys as Special Mixtures
Stainless steel is a uniform mixture containing iron, nickel,
chromium, and small amount of carbon. These are mixed
so uniformly that entire mixture appears same throughout.
Such mixtures are known as alloys.
Common Alloys and Their Composition
Brass: mixture of copper and zinc
Bronze: mixture of copper and tin
Stainless steel: iron, nickel, chromium, and carbon
Air is a uniform mixture of mainly nitrogen, oxygen, argon,
carbon dioxide, and water vapour. Oxygen is required by
most living beings and helps in combustion. Nitrogen
constitutes about 78% of air and does not take part in
combustion.
Testing for Carbon Dioxide in Air
When calcium oxide (quick lime) is added to water, it forms
calcium hydroxide solution called lime water. When this
colorless solution is left exposed to air, it turns milky due to
reaction with carbon dioxide present in air.
ChemicalEquation:
Calcium hydroxide + Carbon dioxide → Calcium carbonate
+ Water
Other Components in Air Apart from gases, air contains
suspended dust particles that are pollutants. These
particles settle on surfaces and can be observed using a
magnifying glass. Major air pollutants include particulate
matter (dust, soot) and gases like carbon monoxide, ozone,
nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
Types of Mixtures Based on Physical States
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Mixture Type Examples Nature
.
1 Gas and gas Air Uniform
Aerated water, oxygen dissolved in
2 Gas and liquid Uniform
water
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Mixture Type Examples Nature
.
3 Solid and gas Carbon particles in air Non-uniform
Liquid and Vinegar (acetic acid in water), oil Uniform/Non-
4
liquid and water uniform
Solid and Uniform/Non-
5 Seawater, sand and water
liquid uniform
Uniform/Non-
6 Solid and solid Baking powder, alloys
uniform
Pure Substances
Pure substance is one that has no other substance present
in it. Pure substance is kind of matter that cannot be
separated into other kinds of matter by any physical
process. When scientist says something is pure, it means
substance consists of same type of particles.
Examples of Classification
Milk: Mixture (contains water, fats, proteins, minerals)
Packed fruit juice: Mixture (contains water, sugars,
vitamins, preservatives)
Baking soda: Pure substance (compound)
Sugar: Pure substance (compound)
Soil: Mixture (contains various minerals, organic
matter, water)
Pure substances can be classified into two main types:
elements and compounds.
1. Elements
Elements are substances that cannot be further broken
down into simpler substances. They are building blocks of
all matter. Each element is made up of identical particles
called atoms that are different from particles of any other
element.
Formation of Molecules
Atoms of most elements cannot exist independently. Two
or more atoms combine to form stable particle called
molecule. For example:
Two hydrogen atoms combine to form one hydrogen
molecule
Two oxygen atoms combine to form one oxygen
molecule
Classification of Elements
Metals: Gold, silver, magnesium, iron, aluminum
Non-metals: Carbon, sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen
Metalloids: Silicon, boron (have intermediate
properties)
States of Elements
118 elements are known at present
Most exist in solid state
11 elements exist in gaseous state at room
temperature (all non-metals)
Only 2 elements are liquid at room temperature:
mercury (metal) and bromine (non-metal)
Gallium and caesium become liquid around 30°C
Elements in Technology
More than 45 different elements like aluminum, copper,
silicon, cobalt, lithium, gold, silver are used in
manufacturing mobile phones including screen, battery,
and other components.
2. Compounds
Compounds are formed when different elements combine
in fixed ratios to form something entirely new. Properties of
compounds are different from those of elements forming
that compound. Constituent elements of compound cannot
be separated by any physical method.
Example: Water as Compound
When electricity is passed through water, it breaks down
into hydrogen and oxygen gases. This shows water is
composed of two different elements – hydrogen and
oxygen combined in 2:1 ratio.
Testing the Gases:
Hydrogen gas burns with pop sound when tested with
burning candle
Oxygen gas makes candle flame glow brighter
Other Examples of Compounds
Common salt (Sodium chloride): Sodium (soft
metal) + Chlorine (hazardous gas) = harmless taste-
enhancing substance
Sugar: Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. When
heated, sugar decomposes to form carbon (charcoal)
and water
Formation of Iron Sulfide Compound
When mixture of iron filings and sulfur powder is heated, it
forms iron sulfide compound:
Property Iron + Sulfur Mixture Iron Sulfide Compound
Black and yellow particles
Appearance Uniform black mass
visible
Magnetic
Iron attracted to magnet Not attracted to magnet
property
Separation Components can be separated Cannot be separated
Reaction with
Iron reacts, sulfur doesn’t Iron sulfide reacts differently
acid
Property Iron + Sulfur Mixture Iron Sulfide Compound
Hydrogen (no smell, pop Hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg
Gas produced
sound) smell)
Understanding elements, compounds, and mixtures is key
to innovation in various fields:
In Medicine and Agriculture
Chemists study how elements combine to create life-
saving medicines and vaccines
Knowledge helps create fertilizers enhancing crop
production for growing population
In Engineering and Materials Science
Engineers design materials with unique properties
using compounds and mixtures
Alloys like stainless steel are stronger and more
durable than pure iron
Wood, steel, concrete used as building materials are
all mixtures
Wonder Materials Graphene aerogel made from carbon is
lightest material on earth. It’s so light that grass can hold
it. Being highly porous with high absorbing capacity, it can
be used as environmental cleaner for oil spills and in
energy-saving devices.
What Are Minerals?
Most rocks are mixture of minerals that can be viewed with
eyes, magnifying glass, or microscope. Minerals are
natural, solid substances found on Earth with fixed
chemical composition.
Types of Minerals
Native minerals: Pure elements like gold, silver,
copper, sulfur, carbon
Compound minerals: Made of more than one
element like quartz, calcite, mica, pyroxene, olivine
Everyday Uses of Minerals
Cement: Made from calcite, quartz, alumina, iron
oxide
Talcum powder: Made from mineral talc
Many everyday items contain minerals or elements
extracted from minerals
Summary
Matter Classification:
Category Definition Examples
Two or more substances mixed retaining Air, seawater, alloys,
Mixtures
individual properties sprout salad
Pure Elements and
Single type of particles throughout
Substances compounds
Cannot be broken down further by Gold, oxygen,
Elements
chemical means hydrogen, iron
Elements combined in fixed ratios with Water, salt, sugar,
Compounds
new properties carbon dioxide
Pure Substances Include:
All elements (hydrogen, oxygen, gold, iron, etc.)
All compounds (water, carbon dioxide, sodium
chloride, etc.)
Not Matter: Light, heat, electricity, thoughts, and
emotions are important but not made of matter as they
don’t have mass or take up space.