wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

How will you justify that clean air is a mixture and not a compound?


Open in App
Solution

Clean air is considered as a mixture and not a compound because:

  • The components of air i.e., different gases like Oxygen (O2), Nitrogen (N2), Argon (Ar) etc. are combined only physically. They are not chemically combined by any chemical bonds between the gases.
  • Air has a variable composition i.e., air does not consists of the same components at different places. Some places have more amounts of a particular gas than others and vice-versa.
  • The properties of air are the properties of the gases that are present in the air. In other words, like a mixture the properties of the components are retained in air. This can be proved by the fact that air supports combustion which is a property of Oxygen. This is because the properties of air are the properties of its constituents. If the air was a compound, the properties of air would have been different from the properties of the gases.
  • Like a mixture, the components of air can be separated by using physical methods of separation like fractional distillation. A compound can not be separated into its constituents using the methods of physical separation.
  • Air does not have a fixed boiling point. This is because it is a mixture of gases. So air boils over a range of -186°Cto-196°C because this range covers the temperature values at which the gases present in air boil.

Mixture: When two or more substances (elements or compounds or an element and compound) are mixed in any proportion.

  • The components of a mixture can be separated by physical methods of separation.
  • Example: A mixture of Sand and Iron (Fe) can be separated by using a magnet (physical process) where Iron gets attracted to the magnet leaving behind the sand.

Compound: A compound is a pure substance in which elements combine chemically in a fixed composition to give a compound.

  • They can be broken down into elements that make up the compound by using chemical or electrochemical methods.
  • The properties of the compound are entirely different from the elements from which it is formed.
  • Example: Water (H2O), Common salt i.e.; Sodium chloride (NaCl)

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Mixtures
CHEMISTRY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon