Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Mixtures & Separation Techniques

Vocabulary flashcards covering definitions of mixtures, their types, colloids, and common separation techniques.

Mixture

Matter composed of two or more pure substances that retain their own properties and can vary in composition.

Pure Substance

A form of matter that cannot be broken down or purified by physical means and has unique characteristic properties.

Homogeneous Mixture

Also called a solution; components are evenly distributed and cannot be distinguished from one another.

Heterogeneous Mixture

Components can be visually distinguished; composition and properties vary throughout the sample.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture in which one component (solute) is uniformly dissolved in another (solvent).

Solvent

The more abundant component of a solution that acts as the dissolving medium.

Solute

The less abundant component in a solution; the substance being dissolved.

Liquid Solution

A solution where the solvent is in the liquid phase.

Solid Solution

A homogeneous mixture of solids, often metallic alloys.

Gaseous Solution

A solution with a gaseous solvent, e.g., clean air.

Suspension

A heterogeneous mixture whose particles are large enough to settle into layers when left undisturbed.

Colloid

A heterogeneous mixture with solute-like particles dispersed throughout a medium; particles are small enough to stay suspended.

Dispersed Phase

The solute-like particles in a colloid.

Dispersing Medium

The solvent-like phase in which colloidal particles are suspended.

Gaseous Colloid

A colloid whose dispersing medium is a gas (e.g., smoke, deodorant spray).

Solid Aerosol

A gaseous colloid with solid dispersed phase; example: smoke.

Liquid Aerosol

A gaseous colloid with liquid dispersed phase; example: deodorant spray.

Liquid Sol

A liquid colloid with solid dispersed phase; example: ink.

Emulsion

A liquid colloid of one liquid dispersed in another; example: milk.

Liquid Foam

A liquid colloid with gas dispersed phase; example: shaving foam.

Solid Foam

A solid colloid with gas dispersed in a solid; example: Styrofoam.

Gel

A solid colloid with liquid dispersed in a solid matrix; example: Jell-O.

Solid Sol

A solid colloid of one solid dispersed in another; example: colored glass.

Tyndall Effect

Scattering of light by colloidal particles, used to distinguish colloids from true solutions.

Evaporation (Separation)

Heating a solution until the solvent vaporizes, leaving solid solutes behind.

Recrystallization

Separation technique exploiting solubility differences; solute dissolves at high temperature and crystallizes upon cooling.

Solubility

Amount of a substance that can dissolve in a given solvent at a specific temperature.

Simple Distillation

Separates liquids with a large difference in boiling points.

Fractional Distillation

Separates liquids whose boiling points differ by only a small amount.

Vacuum Distillation

Distillation performed under reduced pressure for compounds with very high boiling points.

Steam Distillation

Distillation method for heat-sensitive compounds using steam to lower boiling temperature.

Distilling Flask

Glassware that holds the mixture to be distilled.

Condenser

Apparatus that cools vapor back to liquid during distillation.

Distillate

The purified liquid with the lower boiling point collected during distillation.

Residue (Distillation)

Substance remaining in the distilling flask after distillation.

Chromatography

Separation technique based on differential partitioning of components between mobile and stationary phases.

Mobile Phase

The solvent that carries analytes through the stationary phase in chromatography.

Stationary Phase

The adsorbent material that retains components during chromatography.

Normal-Phase Chromatography

Chromatography where the mobile phase is non-polar and the stationary phase is polar.

Reversed-Phase Chromatography

Chromatography with a polar mobile phase and a non-polar stationary phase.

Column Chromatography

Chromatographic method where the stationary phase is packed in a column.

Planar Chromatography

Chromatography with a stationary phase on a flat plate (e.g., paper chromatography).

Chromatogram

The visual record showing separated components after chromatography.

Manual Picking

Physical removal of components from a heterogeneous mixture using hands or tools.

Sieving

Separation technique that exploits particle size differences using a mesh or sieve.

Magnetism (Separation)

Using a magnet to extract magnetic materials from a mixture.

Filtration

Separating solids from liquids by passing the mixture through a porous barrier.

Residue (Filtration)

Solid particles collected on the filter during filtration.

Filtrate

The liquid that passes through the filter in filtration.

Sedimentation

Process where suspended solids settle out of a liquid under gravity.

Decantation

Pouring off the clear liquid after sedimentation, leaving solids behind.

Separatory Funnel

Apparatus used to separate immiscible liquids of different densities.

Centrifugation

High-speed rotation to separate mixture components based on density differences.