Pure Substance Chemistry Example 2

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Example 2

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How can you determine whether a clear liquid is a pure substance or a mixture?

Solution

  1. 1
    Measure its boiling point. A pure substance has a sharp, constant boiling point.
  2. 2
    A mixture boils over a range of temperatures.
  3. 3
    Alternatively, test density or other physical properties — pure substances have fixed values while mixtures vary with composition.

Answer

Pure substances have fixed boiling points; mixtures have boiling ranges.\text{Pure substances have fixed boiling points; mixtures have boiling ranges.}
Physical properties like boiling point, melting point, and density are characteristic of pure substances and serve as identification tools.

About Pure Substance

A sample of matter that has a fixed, definite chemical composition throughout, consisting of only one type of element or one type of compound.

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More Pure Substance Examples

Example 1 easy

Distinguish between a pure substance and a mixture. Give two examples of each.

Example 3 easy

Is orange juice a pure substance or a mixture? Explain.

Example 4 hard

Both distilled water and steel are uniform in appearance and properties. Explain why distilled water

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