Examples of Mixtures
Mixtures can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. A homogeneous mixture is a type of mixture in which the composition is uniform and every part of the solution has the same properties. A heterogeneous mixture is a type of mixture in which the components can be seen, as there are two or more phases present. One example of a mixture is air. Air is a homogeneous mixture of the gaseous substances nitrogen, oxygen, and smaller amounts of other substances. Salt, sugar, and many other substances dissolve in water to form homogeneous mixtures. A homogeneous mixture in which there is both a solute and solvent present is also a solution. Mixtures can have any amounts of ingredients.
The following table shows the main properties of the three families of mixtures.
| Mixture homogeneity | Homogeneous | Visually homogeneous but microscopically heterogeneous | Heterogeneous |
| Particle size | < 1 nanometer | between 1 nanometer and 1 micrometer | > 1 micrometer |
| Physical stability | Yes | Yes | No: needs stabilizing agents |
| Tyndall effect | No | Yes | Yes |
| Separates by centrifugation | No | Yes | - |
| Separates by decantation | No | No | Yes |
The following table shows examples of the three types of mixtures.
| Dissolved or dispersed phase | Continuous medium | Solution | Colloid | Coarse dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | Gas | Gas mixture: air (oxygen and other gases in nitrogen) | None | None |
| Liquid | Gas | None | Aerosols of liquid particles: fog, mist, vapor, hair sprays | Aerosol |
| Solid | Gas | None | Aerosols of solid particles: smoke, cloud, air particulates | Solid aerosol: dust |
| Gas | Liquid | Solution: oxygen in water | Liquid foam: whipped cream, shaving cream | Foam |
| Liquid | Liquid | Solution: alcoholic beverages | Emulsion: miniemulsion, microemulsion | Emulsion: milk, mayonnaise, hand cream |
| Solid | Liquid | Solution: sugar in water | Liquid sol: pigmented ink, blood | Suspension: mud (soil, clay or silt particles are suspended in water), chalk powder suspended in water |
| Gas | Solid | Solution: hydrogen in metals | Solid foam: aerogel, styrofoam, pumice | Foam: dry sponge |
| Liquid | Solid | Solution: amalgam (mercury in gold), hexane in paraffin wax | Gel: agar, gelatin, silicagel, opal | Wet sponge |
| Solid | Solid | Solution: alloys, plasticizers in plastics | Solid sol: cranberry glass | Gravel, granite |
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