Final answer:
The substance that can be separated by physical means is a mixture. Mixtures contain two or more substances that are not chemically bonded, allowing them to be separated physically. Elements and compounds, on the other hand, are pure substances that require chemical methods for separation, while radicals are components of molecules held together by covalent bonds. To answer the student's question regarding which of the following substances can be separated by physical means, the answer is (a) mixture.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question regarding which of the following substances can be separated by physical means, the answer is (a) mixture. Mixtures are composed of two or more substances that are not chemically combined, allowing them to be separated through physical methods such as filtration, distillation, or centrifugation. Now let's classify some substances:
- a. White wine - This is a homogeneous mixture (solution) because it has a uniform composition throughout and the different components cannot be visibly distinguished.
- b. Mercury - Mercury is an element. It is a pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom.
- c. Ranch-style salad dressing - This is a heterogeneous mixture because it contains various ingredients that can be seen as separate parts.
- d. Table sugar (sucrose) - Sucrose is a compound composed of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms in a specific ratio and is chemically bonded.
Additional classifications:
- Filtered tea - A homogeneous mixture (solution).
- Freshly squeezed orange juice - Typically a heterogeneous mixture due to the presence of pulp and other particles.
- A compact disc - This is not strictly a substance to classify in chemical terms but could be considered a compound as it is made of various materials bonded together.
- Aluminum oxide - A compound with a fixed ratio of aluminum and oxygen atoms.
- Selenium - An element, found on the periodic table.