Is matter around us pure?

Pure Substance

A material with a uniform and definite composition, consisting of only one kind of particle.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.

Compound

A pure substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded.

Homogeneous Mixture

A mixture in which the components are evenly distributed and indistinguishable from one another.

Heterogeneous Mixture

A mixture in which the components can be seen and are not uniformly distributed.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, where one is dissolved in the other.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.

Solvent

The substance that dissolves the solute, typically present in a larger amount in a solution.

Colloid

A mixture where the particle size is between that of solutions and suspensions; particles are larger than those in a solution but smaller than those in a suspension.

Suspension

A heterogeneous mixture where the particles do not dissolve but remain suspended in the solvent.

Concentration of a Solution

The amount of solute presente in a given amount of solution.

Tyndall Effect

The scattering of light by particles in a colloid or very fine suspension.

Chemical Change

A change that results in the formation of new substances with different properties.

Physical Change

A change that does not result in the formation of new substances and generally is reversible.