Final answer:
Soil is classified as a heterogeneous mixture due to its non-uniform composition. Other classifications include salt as a compound, pure water as a compound, and gold as an element.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question: Soil is a heterogeneous mixture. It is comprised of various substances, such as organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and countless organisms that together support life on Earth. In contrast to homogeneous mixtures where the composition is uniform throughout, heterogeneous mixtures like soil have different compositions in different parts of the mixture.
To further define substances, let's consider:
Salt: A compound (specifically, sodium chloride or NaCl).
Pure water: A compound (made up of hydrogen and oxygen in a fixed ratio).
Salt water: A homogeneous mixture (salt uniformly dissolved in water).
Pure air: A homogeneous mixture (various gases evenly mixed).
Carbon dioxide: A compound (consisting of one carbon and two oxygen atoms).
Gold: An element (comprised of only gold atoms).
Bronze: A heterogeneous mixture (an alloy of copper and tin).