Compound vs. Mixture
Main DifferenceTwo terms which are frequently used in chemistry are compound and mixture, they are similar yet different from each other, and their differences will be stated in the following lines in detail to understand them in a better way. There are many definitions of these two terms which can be confusing but to explain them in simple words, compounds are substances that do not have variable composition while mixtures consist of variable forms. The best example of a compound can be water which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen molecules, the structure of water throughout is similar and all the particles are combined in a proper way. One the other hand, the best example of the mixture will be a perfume which consists of different substances added together. There is no good structure, two different materials can be mixed in any proportion, and they do not have to be same. Another example is ocean which has a different concentration at various places and is not always equally distributed. There are other ways to explain the difference between the two terms. Compounds, for instance, can be termed as substances which are made up of two or more elements which have been added with the help of a chemical method while mixture can be called an element which has been made by two or more elements which have been added together in a physical way. For compounds, they can have their own properties, but when they are mixed together, all of them start showing the same quantities with each one of them having different but fixed proportions. On the other hand, for a mixture when two substances are added together they do not form a new substance, in fact, several types of materials can be gained from it. Another difference between them is that mixtures have elements which have been added together can be separated again with the help of any physical method. While the elements of a compound can also be separated but with the support of a chemical reaction. A brief description of both these terms is given below.
Difference Between Compound and Mixture
Compound vs. Mixture
Compounds are substances which are pure in every way. The mixture is a substance which is always impure.
Compound vs. Mixture
Compounds are two or more substances which are mixed together with the help of a chemical reaction while the mixture is two or more substances which are mixed together with the support of a physical process.
Compound vs. Mixture
Compounds always have a fixed ratio; mixture never has a fixed rate.
Compound vs. Mixture
Compounds have properties which depend on the two elements. The mixture has properties which are variable and depend on some items.
Compound vs. Mixture
The components of a compound can be separated with the chemical reaction only; The elements of a mixture can only be separated with a physical action.
Compound vs. Mixture
Properties of a compound may or may not be different to its elements; Properties of a mixture are always same as its elements.
Compoundnoun
an enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined
Mixturenoun
The act of mixing.
The mixture of sulphuric acid and water produces heat.Compoundnoun
a group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices
Mixturenoun
Something produced by mixing.
An alloy is a mixture of two metals.Compoundnoun
Anything made by combining several things.
Mixturenoun
Something that consists of diverse elements.
The day was a mixture of sunshine and showers.Compoundnoun
A substance made from any combination elements.
Mixturenoun
A medicinal compound.
A teaspoonful of the mixture to be taken three times daily after mealsCompoundnoun
(chemistry) A substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight.
Mixturenoun
(India) A mix of different dry foods as a snack, especially chevda or Bombay mix.
Compoundnoun
(linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem; compound word; for example laptop, formed from lap and top.
Mixturenoun
(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)
Compoundnoun
(rail) a compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
Mixturenoun
any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients;
he volunteered to taste her latest concoctionhe drank a mixture of beer and lemonadeCompoundadjective
composed of elements; not simple
a compound wordMixturenoun
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things;
a great assortment of cars was on displayhe had a variety of disordersa veritable smorgasbord of religionsCompoundadjective
(math) dealing with numbers of various denominations of quantity, or with processes more complex than the simple process
compound addition; compound proportionMixturenoun
an event that combines things in a mixture;
a gradual mixture of culturesCompoundadjective
(music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).
Mixturenoun
the act of mixing together;
paste made by a mix of flour and waterthe mixing of sound channels in the recording studioCompoundverb
(transitive) To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts.
to compound a medicineCompoundverb
(transitive) To assemble (ingredients) into a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.
Compoundverb
(transitive) To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else.
Compoundverb
To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.
to compound a debtCompoundverb
(transitive) To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise.
Compoundverb
(intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration.
Compoundverb
To compose; to constitute.
Compoundverb
To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
Compoundverb
(transitive) To worsen a situation
Compoundnoun
(chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
Compoundnoun
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
Compoundnoun
an enclosure of residences and other building (especially in the Orient)
Compoundverb
make more intense, stronger, or more marked;
The efforts were intensifiedHer rudeness intensified his dislike for herPotsmokers claim it heightens their awarenessThis event only deepened my convictionsCompoundverb
put or add together;
combine resourcesCompoundverb
calculate principal and interest
Compoundverb
create by mixing or combining
Compoundverb
combine so as to form a whole; mix;
compound the ingredientsCompoundadjective
of leaf shapes; of leaves composed of several similar parts or lobes
Compoundadjective
consisting of two or more substances or ingredients or elements or parts;
soap is a compound substancehousetop is a compound worda blackberry is a compound fruitCompoundadjective
composed of many distinct individuals united to form a whole or colony;
coral is a colonial organismComparison Chart
| Compound | Mixture |
| Substances which are pure in every way | Substance which is always impure. |
| Combination | |
| Two or more substances which are mixed together with the help of a chemical reaction | Two or more substances which are mixed together with the support of a physical process. |
| Properties | |
| Depend on the two elements | Variable and depend on some items |
| Relation | |
| May or may not be different to its elements | Properties of a mixture are always same as its elements. |
Definition of Compound
In simple words, compounds can be defined as two or more elements which are combined together. For a more technical definition, the compound can be something which is a combination of two or more elements which are chemically combined with each other. The components react chemically are formed bonds between each other Compounds are always pure substances which have distinct properties. They are added in fixed amounts, and their properties are similar at all points within themselves. Once they are joined together, the original elements don’t have their properties anymore and show new features. For example, in water, hydrogen and oxygen, which have different properties are joined together and result in new properties which are neither like oxygen nor like hydrogen. If there is a need for the reversible reaction, it is only possible in a chemical way, these cannot be separated with any physical reaction. Another important in this regard is salt which is constituted of different elements such as sodium chloride, calcium silicate, and potassium iodide. They are different but join together to form a salt, if a chemical reaction is done on salt, all these constituents can be obtained again.
Definition of Mixture
Mixtures are the easiest things to find, they are everywhere. From creating a drink to adding different colors together. A mixture can be defined as a combination of two or more elements which are joined together to form another substance with the help of a physical reaction. Because it is a physical reaction, the properties of the mixture are similar to that of the elements added. To obtain these features back, one has to do a physical process. The substances have to be in proper proportion to get the required part. No new material can be formed in a mixture, the originally added ones retain their properties and are present in different ratios. This is what differentiates them from compounds, they are random processes with no fixed methods being used, from two elements by mixing them differently, separate substances can be obtained. Therefore, a simple definition of the mixture will be the formation of a material by adding two other elements which are distinct from each other.
ConclusionThere are many terms which can give the impression that they have the same meaning but in actual are very different from each other, compound and mixture are these terms which have been explained in this article and the concepts have been made clearer for people who do not generally know much about them.
