Differentiate a mixture from a solution, and name a separation method for each.

Differentiate a mixture from a solution, and name a separation method for each.

• A. A mixture has components that can be separated physically; a solution is a homogeneous mixture at the molecular level. Separation methods: filtration for mixtures; evaporation/crystallization for solutions.
• B. A mixture is always uniform; a solution is not.
• C. A mixture cannot be separated; a solution can.
• D. A solution contains only water.

Answer: (A)

A mixture is two or more substances physically combined, with each component keeping its own properties; a solution is a uniform blend where a solute is dissolved in a solvent at the molecular level, so the composition is the same throughout. Because of this, you separate mixtures by physical methods like filtration when a solid is mixed with a liquid. For solutions, you typically remove the solvent or encourage the solute to come out of solution, using evaporation or crystallization. The other statements don’t fit because mixtures aren’t always uniform, a solution isn’t just water, and mixtures can be separated by physical means.

A mixture is two or more substances physically combined, with each component keeping its own properties; a solution is a uniform blend where a solute is dissolved in a solvent at the molecular level, so the composition is the same throughout. Because of this, you separate mixtures by physical methods like filtration when a solid is mixed with a liquid. For solutions, you typically remove the solvent or encourage the solute to come out of solution, using evaporation or crystallization. The other statements don’t fit because mixtures aren’t always uniform, a solution isn’t just water, and mixtures can be separated by physical means.