Homogeneous and heterogeneous
Pure theoretically calculating we could distinguish 18 kinds of mixtures of two components, if we apply:
- having three different phases,
- the mixture is composed of two components, and
- every mixture can be homogeneous as well as heterogeneous.
|
(s) |
(l) |
(g) |
(s) |
(s) + (s) |
(s) + (l) |
(s) + (g) |
(l) |
(l) + (s) |
(l) + (l) |
(l) + (g) |
(g) |
(g) + (s) |
(g) + (l) |
(g) + (g) |
The scheme shows nine theoretical mixtures that all can be (also theoretically) homo and heterogeneous.
Note that the reality is different.
- (l) + (s) and (s) + (l) are equal.
- (g) + (g) is always homogeneous; there is no heterogeneous form of it.
- (g) + (s) only exist as heterogeneous mixtures.
A couple of examples:
- A mixture of salt and sugar cristals: (s) + (s) heterogeneous
- a mixture of CO2 in water (soda water) is homogeneous, but becomes heterogeneous as soon as you open the bottle.
- air is a mixture of gases (always homogeneous)