A mixture is a combination of two or more pure substances that retain their separate chemical identities and properties.

Since the amounts of each substance making up a mixture can be changed, the physical properties of a mixture depend on its composition. In contrast, the composition of a pure substance is constant, and thus pure substances have characteristic physical properties that do not change. Example s of physical properties that can be used to describe pure substances includes solubility, conductivity, magnetism, density, boiling point, and melting point. By taking advantage of the unique physical properties of individual components within a mixture, it should be possible to separate a mixture into its components. For example, if one component in a mixture of two solids dissolves in water, whiles a second component does not, adding water to the mixture and then filtering the residue can separate the component. Subjecting the mixture to a physical change in this way would change the ratio of components in the mixture. This leads to one of the definitions of a mixturea substance whose composition can be altered by a physical change. Physical changes that can be used to separate the components of a mixture include filtration, evaporation, crystallization, and distillation. Mass percent composition is a convenient way to express the actual composition of a mixture in terms of the amount of each component. The mass percentage of each component in a mixture is calculated as follows: Mass %of component = x 100%

In order to determine the percent composition of a mixture, it is necessary to separate the components quantitativelywithout loss of materialand then measure the mass of each recovered component. The sum of the mass percentage of all components in a mixture equals 100%.

Separating a solid from a liquid A solid that is mixed with a liquid may be insoluble in the liquid, or it may have dissolved. When an insoluble solid floats in a liquid, the mixture is called a suspension. Insoluble solids can be separated by filtration. The solid is trapped by the filter paper, while the liquid passes through it. A simple example of this technique is the separation of a mixture of fine sand in water. A residue of sand collects in the filter paper and the liquid that drips through (in this case water) is called the filtrate. This type of filtration is called gravity filtration (Fig. 19.1).

Small amounts of a fine suspension can be separated in a centrifuge. Tubes of the suspension are spun around very quickly and the solid ollects at the bottom of the tube, leaving clear liquid at the top. The clear liquid can then be removed with a pipette, leaving the solid in the tube (Fig. 19.4).

Solid dissolved in a liquid (in solution) The solid cannot be separated from the solvent by filtering or centrifuging, because now the solid particles are too small. The solvent can be removed from the solid by evaporation. The solution is heated until the solvent boils off, leaving the solid behind (Fig. 19.5). This is often used for separating salt from salt solution. However, there are disadvantages with this method. If impurities are in the olvent they will be left behind and contaminate the solid. Also, some solids may decompose during heating to dryness.