Brass is a (a) Compound (c) Homogeneous mixture (b) Element (d) Heterogeneous mixture
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct answer: (c) Homogeneous mixture
Explanation:
Brass is classified as a homogeneous mixture, specifically a metal alloy. It is made primarily by combining copper and zinc in varying proportions. This combination results in a material that has uniform composition and appearance throughout. Even under a microscope, it is difficult to distinguish the separate elements once they are mixed and melted together.
Unlike compounds, where elements are chemically bonded and combine in fixed ratios, the metals in brass are physically combined, and their proportions can vary. Also, in a compound, the individual elements lose their original properties and form a new substance with different properties. In brass, copper and zinc retain many of their metallic properties even though they are combined.
Brass is not an element because it contains more than one type of atom. Elements consist of only one kind of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means. Copper and zinc are both elements, but brass is a mixture of the two.
It is also not a heterogeneous mixture, because such mixtures have visibly different components or phases, like oil and water. Brass does not show such separation. It appears as a single, uniform metal and has the same composition throughout, which defines it as a homogeneous mixture.
In summary, brass is best described as a homogeneous mixture because it is a uniform combination of metals where the composition is consistent and cannot be distinguished by sight. This characteristic places it under homogeneous mixtures rather than compounds, elements, or heterogeneous mixtures.
