Short Answer

Compounds and mixtures are different in how their components combine and behave. A compound is formed when two or more elements combine chemically in a fixed ratio, creating a new substance with new properties. These components cannot be separated by physical methods. For example, water is a compound made of hydrogen and oxygen.

A mixture is formed when substances are physically combined without any chemical change. The substances keep their original properties and can be mixed in any proportion. Mixtures can be separated by simple physical methods like filtration, evaporation, or handpicking.

Detailed Explanation

How compounds differ from mixtures

Compounds and mixtures are both made of two or more substances, but they differ greatly in how these substances are combined, how they behave, and how they can be separated. A compound is formed when elements join together chemically. This means a chemical reaction takes place, and the original elements lose their individual properties. The resulting compound has completely new characteristics. For example, hydrogen and oxygen are gases, but when they react chemically, they form water, which is a liquid with very different properties from its elements.

In a compound, the components combine in a fixed ratio. This ratio never changes. For instance, water will always contain hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2:1. Carbon dioxide always contains carbon and oxygen in a 1:2 ratio. This fixed composition makes every sample of the same compound identical. Compounds are represented by chemical formulas that show these ratios, such as H₂O, CO₂, and NaCl.

A mixture, however, is formed when substances are physically combined without any chemical reaction. This means that each substance keeps its own properties and identity. For example, when salt is mixed with water, the salt dissolves, but the salt and water do not change chemically. They simply exist together in the mixture. In the same way, sand mixed with iron filings still contains sand and iron separately.

One major difference between compounds and mixtures is the ease of separation. Compounds can only be broken down into their elements by chemical changes, such as electrolysis, heating, or chemical reactions. For example, water can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen only by passing electricity through it. This shows that compounds have strong chemical bonds holding their elements together.

Mixtures, on the other hand, can be separated by physical methods because their substances are not chemically bonded. Techniques like filtration, evaporation, distillation, sieving, magnetic separation, and decantation are commonly used. For example, salt can be obtained from seawater by evaporation. Iron filings can be removed from sand using a magnet. Oil and water can be separated using a separating funnel.

Properties and composition

Another important difference is that compounds have new properties that are different from the properties of the elements that form them. Sodium is a highly reactive metal, and chlorine is a poisonous gas. But when they chemically combine, they form sodium chloride (table salt), which is safe to eat. This change in properties happens because the chemical bonding rearranges the atoms to form a new substance.

Mixtures do not show such changes. The substances in a mixture keep their original physical and chemical properties. For example, in a mixture of sugar and sand, both sugar and sand remain unchanged. You can still taste the sweetness of sugar and feel the grains of sand. Their properties do not combine to form something new.

Compounds have a fixed composition. This means the elements always combine in the same proportion. Mixtures do not have fixed composition. You can mix more sugar or less sugar in water, and it will still remain a mixture. This flexibility is one of the main features of mixtures.

Homogeneity and appearance

Compounds are always homogeneous. This means they look the same throughout because every part of a compound has the same composition. Whether you take a drop of water from a pond or a drop from a bottle, it is the same compound with the same properties.

Mixtures can be homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous mixtures, like sugar water, look uniform because the substances are evenly spread. Heterogeneous mixtures, like sand and stones, have visible different components.

Importance in daily life

Both compounds and mixtures are important in everyday life. Water, carbon dioxide, and salt are essential compounds. The air we breathe, the food we eat, soil, and many household products are mixtures. Understanding how compounds and mixtures differ helps us apply correct separation methods, use materials properly, and understand chemical changes in nature and industry.

Conclusion

Compounds differ from mixtures in several key ways. Compounds are formed by chemical bonding, have fixed composition, show new properties, and can only be separated by chemical methods. Mixtures are formed by physical combination, have variable composition, keep the original properties of their components, and can be separated by physical methods. These differences help us understand how substances behave and how they can be used in daily life and science.