#AP Chemistry: Mixtures and Separation Techniques 🧪

Welcome to your ultimate guide for mastering mixtures and separation techniques! This guide is designed to help you feel confident and fully prepared for your AP Chemistry exam. Let's dive in!

#Classification of Matter by Composition

Remember, matter can be categorized by its state (solid, liquid, gas) or its composition. We're focusing on composition here. The first key division is between pure substances and mixtures.

• Pure Substance: Composed of a single type of atom or molecule. Think of elements like gold (Au) or compounds like water (H₂O).
• Mixture: Composed of two or more elements or compounds physically combined. The key word here is physically.

#What are Mixtures?

Mixtures are materials made up of two or more substances that are physically combined. They don't form chemical bonds with each other.

#Formula Units: Pure Substances vs. Mixtures

• Pure Substances: Contain atoms or formula units of a single type. For example, pure water (H₂O) contains only H₂O molecules.
• Mixtures: Contain atoms or formula units of two or more types. The proportions of these components can vary. For example, salt water contains both H₂O and NaCl.

#Types of Mixtures

Mixtures are divided into two categories: homogeneous and heterogeneous.

• Homogeneous Mixtures: Uniform in composition. You can't see the individual components.