![Corner icon for tutorials on matter. Matter Chalkboard](../art_global/board-matter.png)
Mixture Basics
Mixtures are absolutely everywhere you look. Most things in nature are mixtures. Look at rocks, the ocean, or even the atmosphere. They are all mixtures, and mixtures are about physical properties, not chemical ones. That statement means the individual molecules enjoy being near each other, but their fundamental chemical structure does not change when they enter the mixture. If the chemical structure changed, it would be called a reaction.![Tap Water and Distilled Water](art/matter_mixture1.png)
Mixtures are Everywhere
![You can separate iron from salt with a magnet](art/matter_mixture1_2.jpg)
If you put sand into a glass of water, it is considered to be a mixture. You can always tell a mixture, because each of the substances can be separated from the group in different physical ways. You can always get the sand out of the water by filtering the water away. If you were busy, you could just leave the sand and water mixture alone for a few minutes. Sometimes mixtures separate on their own. When you come back, you will find that all of the sand has sunk to the bottom. Gravity was helping you with the separation. Don't forget that a mixture can also be made of two liquids. Even something as simple as oil and water is a mixture.
More on Mixtures in Part II...
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Related Video...
Rocks Under the Microscope (Cambridge University Video)