AP Chemistry Flashcards: Composition of Mixtures
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What property is used to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures?
The uniformity of macroscopic properties is used; homogeneous mixtures are uniform throughout, while heterogeneous mixtures are not.
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What property is used to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures?
The uniformity of macroscopic properties is used; homogeneous mixtures are uniform throughout, while heterogeneous mixtures are not.
How do homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures differ in their macroscopic properties?
Homogeneous mixtures have uniform composition and properties throughout, making them appear as a single substance, while heterogeneous mixtures have visibly distinct components and non-uniform properties.
What is a key characteristic of the composition of a mixture?
A key characteristic of a mixture is that the proportions of its constituent substances can vary.
What is elemental analysis?
Elemental analysis is a technique used to determine the relative numbers of atoms in a substance and to assess its purity.
What is the difference between a pure substance and a mixture based on the particles they contain?
Pure substances contain only a single type of particle, whereas mixtures contain two or more different types of particles whose proportions can vary.
What are two primary uses of elemental analysis?
Elemental analysis is used to determine the relative number of atoms in a substance (its empirical formula) and to determine the purity of a sample.
How can elemental analysis be used to determine if a substance is pure?
By comparing the measured elemental composition from the analysis to the known theoretical composition of the pure substance, any significant deviation indicates the presence of impurities.
What is the quantitative relationship between a mixture's composition and its elemental composition by mass?
The overall elemental composition by mass of a mixture is the weighted average of the mass compositions of the individual substances that make up the mixture.
An elemental analysis of a sample thought to be pure sodium chloride (NaCl) reveals the presence of potassium (K). What can be concluded?
The presence of potassium, an element not in NaCl, indicates the sample is not a pure substance but is instead a mixture containing impurities.
What distinguishes a pure substance from all mixtures in terms of particle types?
A pure substance is composed of a single type of particle (atom or molecule), while all mixtures are composed of at least two different types of particles.