Ummary: Pure Substances vs. Mixtures

ummary
Students learn how to classify materials as mixtures, elements or compounds and identify the
properties of each type. The concept of separation of mixtures is also introduced since nearly
every element or compound is found naturally in an impure state such as a mixture of two or
more substances, and it is common that chemical engineers use separation techniques to separate
mixtures into their individual components. For example, the separation of crude oil into purified
hydrocarbons such as natural gas, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and/or lubricants.
Engineering Connection
Almost all materials in the universe are found naturally in impure states such as mixtures of two
or more substances. In chemistry and chemical engineering, a separation process is commonly
used to transform a mixture of substances into two or more distinct materials. The separated
products might differ in chemical properties or some physical property, such as size or crystal
modification or other separation into different components. One example of separation
application is crude oil, which is a mixture of various hydrocarbons. While valuable in this
natural form, demand is greater for the various purified hydrocarbons such as natural gases,
gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricating oils, asphalt, etc. Chemical plants commonly have from 40%
to 70% of both capital and operating costs in separations.[1] Since separations are ubiquitous in
chemical plants and petroleum refineries, chemical engineers must be familiar with a variety of
separation methods.
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students should be able to:
 Define element, mixture and compound.

 Explain the differences between pure substances and mixtures.
 Explain the characteristics of the mixtures.
 Give some examples of elements, mixtures and compounds.
 Define the homogenious and heterogeneous mixtures and give some examples.
 Explain in general how mixtures can be separated.
 Name some separation techniques.
 Explain how chemical engineers apply these separation methods to purify various
hydrocarbons such as natural gases, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricating oils, asphalt,
etc., from raw crude oil.
Pure Substances vs. Mixtures
Everything around us is made of matter. Matter can be classified in to two broad categories: pure
substances and mixtures.
Substance flowchart.
Lavoisier, a French chemist, classified pure substances into elements and compounds on the
basis of quantitative studies. He showed that when we heat mercuric oxide it changes into
mercury and oxygen.[2]
Separation equation.
Mercuric oxide is a compound because it decomposes into simpler substances, whereas mercury
and oxygen cannot be further decomposed into anything simpler as they are elements.
Pure Substances
1. Elements
All matter is composed of elements that are fundamental substances that cannot be broken down
by chemical means. Element is defined as a substance that can not be further reduced as to
simpler substances by ordinary processes. Another definition of element: a material that is
composed of only one type of atom. The elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen are the
elements that make up most living organisms. Some other elements found in living organisms
are magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium.
Of the 114 known elements, 92 occur in nature. By the late 1800s many elements had already
been discovered. Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, proposed an arrangement of known
elements based on their atomic masses. The modern arrangement of the elements, the periodic
table of elements, is a tabular display of the known chemical elements (see Figure 1) in which
they are arranged according to their atomic numbers. The elements are arranged by electron
structure so that many chemical properties vary systematically across the table. Each element is
listed by its atomic number and chemical symbol.
Figure 1. The periodic table of elements.
2. Compounds
A compound is a pure substance composed of two or more different atoms chemically bonded to
one another. That means that it can not be separated into its constituents by mechanical or
physical means and only can be destroyed by chemical means. For example if we bring a magnet
near a sample of iron sulphide, the iron present in the iron sulphide can not be separated.
Properties of a compound differ entirely from those of its constituent elements. Water is
composed of hydrogen and oxygen. However, the properties of hydrogen and oxygen (both
gases) are different from water (liquid). Hydrogen is combustible, oxygen is a supporter of
combustion whereas water (made up of both hydrogen and oxygen) puts out a flame.
Energy changes are involved in the formation of a compound. For example, iron and sulphur
react only when heat is supplied. The constituent elements in a compound are in a fixed
proportion by weight. In water, hydrogen and oxygen are present in a fixed ratio of 1:8 by
weight.
A compound is a homogeneous substance. That is, it is same throughout in properties and
composition. Compounds also have fixed melting and boiling points.
Mixtures
A mixture is a material containing two or more elements or compounds that are in close contact
and are mixed in any proportion. For example, air, sea water, crude oil, etc. The constituents of a
mixture can be separated by physical means like filtration, evaporation, sublimation and
magnetic separation. In the preparation of a mixture, energy is neither evolved nor absorbed. A
mixture has no definite melting and boiling points. The constituents of a mixture retain their
original set of properties. For example, sulphur dissolves in carbon disulphide and a magnet
attracts iron filings. To help illustrate mixtures and different types refer to the associated
activity Element, Mixture, Compound for students to discuss materials they use in their daily
lives to gain a better understanding of pure substances vs. mixtures, and homogeneous vs.
heterogeneous mixtures.
Examples of mixtures:
 Solid in liquid: Sugar and coffee

 Liquid in liquid: Water and alcohol
 Gas in liquid: Soda
 Gas in solid: Air entrapped in soil
 Gas in gas: Air containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.
 Solid in solid: Metal alloys
1. Homogeneous Mixtures
The prefix "homo" indicates sameness. A homogeneous mixture has the same uniform
appearance and composition throughout its mass. For example, sugar or salt dissolved in water,
alcohol in water, etc.
2. Heterogeneous Mixtures

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 Define element, mixture and compound.

 Solid in liquid: Sugar and coffee

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