What’s the Difference Between a Mixture and a Chemical Reaction?
What’s the Difference Between a Mixture
and a Chemical Reaction?
By Lauren Kelley
Both mixtures and
chemical reactions create a new substance at the end of the experiment.
However, the way they both “create” is completely different. A mixture is
physically blended, whereas a chemical reaction is chemically changed. Although
often confused, chemical reactions and mixtures have many different qualities
from each other. Throughout this blog, I
explain why people may be confused but also what makes the two so different.
Mixtures are “the
product of the random distribution of one substance through another without any
chemical reaction, as distinct from a compound”, (Oxford Dictionaries). Put
simply, they are a combination of substances with no 
reaction.
The important part of both definitions is the fact that no reactions take place
while the solute and solvent are being combined. Lots of nature is made up of
mixtures, for instance, how the water of the ocean and sand mix at the
beach.
reaction.
The important part of both definitions is the fact that no reactions take place
while the solute and solvent are being combined. Lots of nature is made up of
mixtures, for instance, how the water of the ocean and sand mix at the
beach.
On the other hand,
chemical reactions rely on the one thing that would make it differ from a
mixture; a reaction. When two substances combine, and the chemical
properties change (not the physical, that would make it a mixture) the
solution would be a
chemical reaction. These occur when the chemical bonds of atoms either form or
break. Another difference is that in mixtures there are solutes and solvents,
however in chemical reactions there are products and reactants.
solution would be a
chemical reaction. These occur when the chemical bonds of atoms either form or
break. Another difference is that in mixtures there are solutes and solvents,
however in chemical reactions there are products and reactants.
In physics and
chemistry, mixtures and chemical reactions both help scientists and students
learn more about the world around them. Countless discoveries have been made
using combination and I have no doubt there will be countless more in the
future. Actually, a team of scientists just recently discovered a new reaction
by “involving three molecules that each participate in the breaking and forming
of chemical bonds” (it’s the fourth link if you would like to read more). In
conclusion, chemical reactions and mixtures are both incredibly important to
finding new discoveries but have very different qualities!
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