# Mixture

Two or more substances that are mixed but not chemically joined. Each keeps its own properties and can be separated by physical methods.

Chemistry (school) · Part 01: Atoms and matter · Card 4 of 10 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

A mixture is like a fruit salad. You can pick the grapes out again.

## In practice

Salty water is a mixture. You can get the salt back by evaporating the water.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is the difference between a compound and a mixture?** A compound has its elements chemically joined. A mixture is not chemically joined and can be separated physically.

### Interview questions

**Describe the difference between an element, a compound and a mixture, with one example of each.**

- Element has one type of atom
- Compound has different atoms chemically bonded
- Mixture is not chemically bonded
- Mixtures can be separated physically

## Questions people ask

### What are common ways to separate a mixture?

Filtration separates a solid from a liquid. Evaporation or crystallisation gets a dissolved solid out of a solution. Simple distillation collects the liquid from a solution. Fractional distillation separates liquids with different boiling points. Chromatography separates coloured dyes, such as those in ink.

### Is air a mixture or a compound?

Air is a mixture of gases, mainly nitrogen at about 78 percent and oxygen at about 21 percent, plus small amounts of argon and carbon dioxide. The gases are not chemically joined, which is why we can separate them by cooling air until it turns to liquid.

## Related concepts

- [Compound](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/chemistry-school/chemistry-school-part-1/chemistry-school-part-1-concept-3)
- [Element](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/chemistry-school/chemistry-school-part-1/chemistry-school-part-1-concept-2)

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