Mechanical mixture is a term commonly used in chemistry to describe a mixture of substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded. The word "mechanical" is spelled /mɪˈkænɪkəl/ using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with the stress on the second syllable. The "mech-" sound at the beginning is pronounced like "mek" with a short 'e' sound before the 'k' consonant. The "-anical" at the end is pronounced like the word "animal" with the stress on the first syllable.
A mechanical mixture is a type of mixture that is composed of two or more substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded. In this type of mixture, the constituent substances retain their individual properties and can be separated by mechanical means.
In a mechanical mixture, the substances are usually visible and easily distinguishable to the naked eye. The particles or components of the mixture are not arranged in any specific pattern or order, and they are randomly distributed throughout the mixture. This lack of uniformity often results in a non-homogeneous mixture, where the properties or characteristics of the components may vary in different parts of the mixture.
One common example of a mechanical mixture is trail mix, which typically contains a combination of nuts, dried fruits, and other snack items. Each component maintains its distinct identity and can be easily separated or picked out from the mixture. Other examples of mechanical mixtures include mixed nuts, a bag of marbles, or a bowl of cereal with different types of grains or flakes.
Mechanical mixtures are different from solutions, which are homogeneous mixtures where the components are evenly distributed at the molecular level. Unlike solutions, mechanical mixtures do not require any chemical processes to combine the substances and can be formed simply by physically mixing them together.
The word "mechanical" originates from the Latin word "mechanicus", which means "pertaining to machines or mechanics". It has its roots in the Greek word "mekhanē", which means "a contrivance or machine".
The word "mixture" comes from the Latin word "mixtura", which means "a mixing or blending". It is derived from the Latin verb "miscere", which means "to mix".
Therefore, "mechanical mixture" combines the term "mechanical", referring to machines or mechanics, with "mixture", indicating a blending or combining of different elements. The term typically denotes a mixture where the components are not chemically combined but rather physically intermingled.