What is the difference between a solution and a mixture?
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, meaning that the components are evenly distributed throughout the solution and cannot be easily separated. In a solution, one substance (the solute) is dissolved in another substance (the solvent). The solute particles are usually on a molecular level and are dispersed and mixed at a molecular level with the solvent particles.
On the other hand, a mixture refers to the combination of two or more substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded. Mixtures can be heterogeneous or homogeneous. Heterogeneous mixtures have non-uniform composition, meaning the components are not evenly distributed and can be visibly distinguished, such as a suspension of sand in water. Homogeneous mixtures, like solutions, have a uniform composition, but the components in a homogeneous mixture are not dissolved at a molecular level. They are typically mixed on a larger scale compared to a solution, such as mixing salt and sugar together.
In summary, the key difference between a solution and a mixture lies in the level of uniformity of the components and the size of the particles involved in the mixture. A solution is a type of homogeneous mixture where the solute is dissolved at a molecular level in the solvent. A mixture refers to the physical combination of substances without molecular-level dissolution.