Water, a compound, is a substance. Is there any circumstance under which a sample of pure water can exist as a heterogeneous mixture? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, under normal conditions, there are no circumstances under which a sample of pure water can exist as a heterogeneous mixture. A heterogeneous mixture requires two or more different substances that are not in a fixed ratio, which is not the case with pure water. The compound water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom chemically combined in a fixed ratio, making it a homogenous substance.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Concepts

Firstly, understand what a compound, substance and a mixture individually mean. Water, being a compound, is formed by chemically combining Hydrogen and Oxygen. Water, being a substance, means it has a fixed composition and characteristic properties. Lastly, understand that a heterogeneous mixture is made up of different substances, which are physically combined, and not in fixed proportions.
02

Analyzing the Possibility

Then analyze, could pure water exist as a heterogeneous mixture? Remember that pure water is a compound and substance that can't be separated or varied proportionally, unless other elements or compounds are introduced.
03

Formulate Your Answer

After understanding the basics and analyzing the possibility, it should be clear that no circumstances under normal conditions can allow pure water to exist as a heterogeneous mixture. Because a heterogeneous mixture requires the physical combination of two or more substances, and pure water is a single, chemically combined compound. Therefore, unless other substances are introduced into the water, it will always be homogenous.

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