Explain how are mixtures classified on the basis of their physical properties.

Homogenous mixture

Heterogeneous mixture

A homogenous mixture has no visible boundaries of separation between the various constituents. It has a uniform composition throughout its mass. All homogenous mixture is called solution.

A heterogeneous mixture has visible boundaries of separation between the various constituents. It does not have a uniform composition throughout its mass.

A mixture of sugar in water is a solution. It has same sugar- water composition throughout and all parts of it have the same sweetness. A solution has only one phase and there is no boundary of separation as between sugar and water particles in a sugar solution.

The mixture of sugar and sand is heterogeneous mixture. There are distinct boundaries of separation between sugar and particles. Further different parts of this mixture will have different sugar and sand compositions, i.e., there will be more of sugar particles in some parts of the mixture while other parts may have more of sand particles.

A mixture of two miscible liquids is also a homogeneous mixture. e.g., a mixture of water and alcohol. Other examples are air, alloys like brass, amalgam etc.

Other example are suspension of solids in liquid and mixture of immiscible liquids like water and oil.