Mixtures and Separation Techniques

This lesson covers mixtures and the key separation techniques you need to know for AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (5.1.1). A mixture consists of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded together. Because the substances in a mixture are not bonded, they retain their individual properties and can be separated by physical methods.

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What Is a Mixture?

A mixture is made up of two or more elements or compounds that are not chemically combined. The components of a mixture:

• Retain their own chemical properties.
• Can be separated by physical methods (no chemical reaction needed).
• Are not in fixed proportions — the composition can vary.

Feature	Mixture	Compound
Bonding	No chemical bonds between components	Atoms are chemically bonded
Separation	Physical methods (filtration, distillation, etc.)	Chemical reactions only
Properties	Each component keeps its own properties	New properties, different from the elements
Proportion	Variable composition	Fixed ratio of atoms (shown by formula)