Introduction

Some matter or substances seem to be the opposite of compounds. They are substances that are formed from the combination of two or more different substances without involving their atoms. We know that water is made up of Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms. We also know that Salt is made up of Sodium and Chlorine atoms. Now, if you were asked to separate Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms present in water, can you? A big NO! Meanwhile, if you were asked to separate salt dissolved in water, can you? It is very easy to do that but may be, you do not know how to. So why can’t we separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from water but salt can be separated from water when it dissolves in it? This is because, the bond holding Hydrogen and Oxygen is stronger than what holds water and salt together.

The Hydrogen and Oxygen are chemically combined together whiles salt and water have been physically combined together. Now, what is formed as a result of the physical combination of two or more substances is what is known as a mixture.