Yes, air is a mixture.
Air is not a pure substance or a compound; rather, it's a combination of multiple gases that are physically combined, not chemically bonded. This means the components of air retain their individual properties and can be separated through physical means.
Here's a breakdown:
- Composition: Air primarily consists of nitrogen (around 78%), oxygen (around 21%), and small amounts of other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, neon, and traces of other elements.
- Variable Composition: The exact composition of air can vary based on location, altitude, and environmental factors. For instance, air in industrial areas might contain higher levels of pollutants compared to air in rural areas.
- Physical Separation: Components of air can be separated through processes like fractional distillation, where gases are liquefied and then separated based on their different boiling points. This wouldn't be possible if air was a compound because separating a compound requires breaking chemical bonds.
- No Fixed Ratio: Unlike compounds, the components of air are not present in a fixed, definite ratio. Water (H₂O), for example, always has a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen. Air does not have such a fixed ratio.
Therefore, the variable composition, the ability to separate its components physically, and the lack of a fixed ratio confirm that air is indeed a mixture.
