What term describes a material composed of more than one chemical compound or element?

• A. Mixture
• B. Solution
• C. Compound
• D. Pure Substance

Answer: (A)

Classification by composition: mixtures consist of two or more substances that are physically combined, with no new chemical bonds forming. The components keep their own properties, and the material can be separated by physical means. Because the item described contains more than one chemical compound or element and is not formed by bonding those parts into a single new substance, it is a mixture. A solution is a specific type of mixture that is uniform throughout, while a compound is a substance made from elements chemically bonded in fixed proportions, and a pure substance is either a single element or a single compound. Therefore, the best term is mixture.