Final answer:
Compounds are pure substances made up of two or more elements in fixed ratios, while mixtures can be either homogeneous with uniform composition or heterogeneous with non-uniform composition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question deals with the classification of matter into compounds and mixtures, and whether mixtures are homogeneous or heterogeneous. Compounds are pure substances that consist of two or more elements chemically combined in fixed ratios;
they cannot be separated by physical means. An example of a compound is water (H2O). On the other hand, mixtures can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. A homogeneous mixture, also known as a solution, has uniform composition and properties throughout, such as salt dissolved in water.
In contrast, a heterogeneous mixture has a non-uniform composition, such as salad dressing, where the different ingredients can be visually distinguished.
To illustrate using given examples:
- White wine is a homogeneous mixture (solution) as it has a consistent composition throughout.
- Mercury is an element as it is a pure substance made of only one type of atom.
- Ranch-style salad dressing is a heterogeneous mixture because it contains distinguishable ingredients.
- Table sugar (sucrose) is a compound made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a fixed ratio.