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Which of the following is the best example of a heterogeneous mixture?
Sugar in water
Mixture of iron chloride and iron fillings
Salt in water
Copper sulphate solution
Mixture of iron chloride and iron fillings
A heterogeneous mixture is a combination of substances where the components are not uniformly distributed and can be visually distinguished. The mixture of iron chloride and iron fillings is heterogeneous because the two solid components retain their individual properties and remain physically distinct.
A heterogeneous mixture is a combination of substances where the components are not uniformly distributed and can be visually distinguished. The mixture of iron chloride and iron fillings is heterogeneous because the two solid components retain their individual properties and remain physically distinct.
Think of a bowl of vegetable soup; you can see and pick out individual vegetables, meaning the distribution is not uniform, just like the iron/iron-chloride mix.
H-E-T-E-R-O = 'He' (Heterogeneous) + 'Ter' (Terrifically) + 'O' (Obvious) тАФ meaning the different components are obviously visible.
CompositionmixtureтАЛюАа=Constant
A heterogeneous mixture consists of physically distinct phases (solid, liquid, or gas) with non-uniform compositions. Because there is no chemical bonding between the components, they can be separated by physical methods such as magnetism (in the case of iron fillings) or filtration.
Heterogeneous mixtures do not have a uniform composition throughout.
Components of a heterogeneous mixture can be separated by physical means.
Homogeneous mixtures (solutions) appear uniform at the macroscopic level.
Sugar in water, salt in water, and copper sulfate solution form uniform, single-phase liquid solutions.
Easier to separate components using physical techniques like filtration, sedimentation, or magnetic separation.
Does not possess consistent chemical or physical properties throughout the bulk material.
Ore dressing in metallurgy (e.g., separating iron from rock).
Soil analysis for environmental testing.
Sugar in water, salt in water, and copper sulfate solution are examples of homogeneous mixtures, where the solute is dissolved uniformly in the solvent.
Option B is the correct choice because the iron filings and iron chloride do not form a single-phase uniform solution.
B is correct тАФ A mixture of iron chloride and iron fillings is a heterogeneous mixture because its components are not uniformly distributed and remain physically distinct.
Always remember: if you can identify separate components with the naked eye or a microscope, it is almost certainly a heterogeneous mixture.