1. Variable Composition: Mixtures can have varying proportions of their components. For example, you can make a strong or weak cup of tea by changing the amount of tea leaves used. Pure substances, on the other hand, have a fixed and unchanging composition. Water is always H₂O, regardless of where you find it.
2. No Chemical Change: Mixtures are formed by physically combining substances, so there is no new chemical compound created. The components retain their individual properties. For example, in a mixture of sand and salt, the sand remains sand and the salt remains salt. In a chemical reaction, however, new substances are formed with different properties.
3. Separable Components: The components of a mixture can be separated by physical means, such as filtration, evaporation, or magnetism. For instance, you can easily separate iron filings from sand using a magnet. Pure substances cannot be separated by physical means; they can only be broken down through chemical reactions.
