Mischung

Mischung is a general term used to describe a physical blend of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded. In science, a mixture consists of components that retain their own properties and can be separated by physical methods. Unlike pure substances, mixtures do not have a fixed chemical composition.

Mixtures are commonly classified by their uniformity. A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition and a single phase, such as a salt solution or air. A heterogeneous mixture contains two or more distinct phases, for example a rock with embedded minerals or oil droplets in water. Within these broad groups, further categories include solutions (a homogeneous blend at the molecular level), suspensions (heavier particles that may settle over time), and colloids (particles intermediate in size that remain dispersed).

Key separation techniques exploit differences in physical properties. Filtration and decantation separate solid particles from liquids; distillation uses differences in boiling points to separate components of a liquid mixture; chromatography can separate components based on affinity to a stationary phase; centrifugation speeds up the separation by density; crystallization can yield solid components from solutions.

Examples and applications span daily life and science. Air is a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases. Seawater is a saline solution. Food products often mix sugars, fats, and flavors. Alloys, such as bronze or steel, are metallic mixtures that can be homogeneous. Understanding mixtures helps in fields ranging from chemistry and materials science to environmental science and engineering.