What is a mixture, in chemical terms?

In chemical terms, a mixture refers to a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined. This means that each substance in the mixture retains its own individual properties and can be separated from the others through physical means, such as filtration or distillation. Mixtures can vary in composition, meaning the ratio of the substances can change, resulting in different properties for different mixtures.

For example, if you mix sand and salt, you can still identify both sand and salt as distinct components, and you could separate them again. This is unlike a compound, where the components are chemically bonded together and form a new substance with a fixed, specific composition. Understanding mixtures is essential in various applications, from chemistry to engineering, as it allows you to manage materials in their unaltered states.