Identify the following substances as pure substance or mixture -puzza -hamburger -spaghetti -carbon dioxide -baking powder
The correct answer and explanation is:
Here are the classifications of the given substances:
- Puzza – Mixture
- Hamburger – Mixture
- Spaghetti – Mixture
- Carbon dioxide – Pure substance
- Baking powder – Mixture
Explanation (300 words):
In chemistry, substances are broadly categorized as pure substances or mixtures based on their composition.
A pure substance has a fixed, uniform composition and distinct chemical properties. It contains only one type of particle—either an element (like gold or oxygen) or a compound (like water or carbon dioxide). These substances cannot be separated into other substances by physical means.
A mixture, on the other hand, is made up of two or more different substances that are physically combined. The components of a mixture retain their own properties and can usually be separated by physical methods like filtration or evaporation.
Now, let’s classify the substances:
- Puzza (Italian for “bad smell” or “stench”) refers to an unpleasant odor, typically composed of many volatile compounds in the air. Since it’s made up of multiple substances in varying amounts, it is a mixture.
- Hamburger is a food item consisting of ingredients such as bread, meat, vegetables, sauces, and seasonings. Each ingredient retains its own properties, and they are not chemically bonded. Thus, a hamburger is clearly a mixture.
- Spaghetti, whether referring to plain pasta or the dish including sauce and toppings, contains multiple ingredients such as wheat, eggs, water, and possibly tomatoes and meat. Therefore, it is also a mixture.
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a pure substance because it is a compound made of carbon and oxygen atoms chemically bonded in a fixed ratio. It has consistent chemical properties and composition throughout.
- Baking powder is a leavening agent used in cooking, made from a combination of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch. Since it consists of multiple compounds physically mixed, it is a mixture.
Understanding the nature of substances helps in identifying their properties and how they behave in different processes.