Which term describes a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined?

• A. Mixture
• B. Heterogeneous mixture
• C. Compound
• D. Homogeneous mixture

Answer: (A)

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded. In a mixture, each substance keeps its own properties, and the components can be separated by physical means such as filtration, evaporation, or centrifugation. This includes both homogeneous mixtures (uniform composition) and heterogeneous mixtures (nonuniform composition). A compound, by contrast, is formed when elements bond chemically to make a new substance with its own properties and a fixed ratio, and it cannot be separated into the original elements by simple physical methods. Since the question describes substances that are not chemically combined, the correct term is mixture.