Introduction: Matter describes everything around us. In this way, chemistry is a study of matter, the properties of matter, and the behavior of matter. Much of what we have around us are mixtures. Mixtures are physical combinations of pure chemical substances. Orange juice sold is stores typically is a mixture of juice, water, and sugar. Many commercial food products sold in supermarkets are mixtures. Typically, these mixtures are made up of elements and compounds. Mixtures can be separated into two types: heterogeneous mixtures (also known as colloids, or mixtures in which particles are distributed unevenly) and homogeneous mixtures (also known as solutions, or mixtures in which particles are distributed evenly).

Elements refer to pure substances that can't be broken down or decomposed chemically into simpler substances. Examples of elements that we commonly encounter include gold, silver, and platinum. Chemical elements form the basis of everything around us. Compounds, on the other hand, refer to two or more elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions or ratios by mass. Examples of compounds around us include water, methane, and ammonia.