If they mix:
* Mixture: This is a general term for a combination of two or more substances where each substance retains its own properties.
* Solution: A homogeneous mixture where one substance (solute) is dissolved completely into another substance (solvent). Examples: salt dissolving in water, sugar dissolving in coffee.
* Suspension: A heterogeneous mixture where particles of one substance are suspended in another but don't dissolve completely. Examples: sand in water, flour in water.
* Colloid: A heterogeneous mixture where particles are dispersed throughout a medium but are larger than in a solution. Examples: milk, fog.
If they react:
* Chemical reaction: This happens when the substances combine and form new substances with different properties. Examples: iron reacting with oxygen to form rust, baking soda reacting with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide.
If they don't mix or react:
* Heterogeneous mixture: The substances remain separate and distinct. Examples: sand and water, oil and water.
Other possibilities:
* Adhesion: When two different substances stick together. This can happen between a solid and a liquid. Example: water sticking to glass.
* Cohesion: When two substances of the same type stick together. Example: water molecules sticking to each other.
So, the best term to use depends on the specific situation and what you are trying to describe.