Question

which of the following describes a heterogeneous mixture?
choose one option
a carbon monoxide, a toxic gas with the chemical formula co
b simple syrup, a substance that has two parts sugar to every one part of water throughout
c beach sand, a substance that can contain rocks, shells, metals and other substances distributed unevenly throughout
d sulfur, a substance with atomic number 16 and the symbol s on the periodic table.

Explanation:

• Option A: Carbon monoxide (\(CO\)) is a compound, not a mixture. A compound has a fixed chemical composition.
• Option B: Simple syrup is a homogeneous mixture. The sugar is uniformly dissolved in water throughout the solution.
• Option C: Beach sand is a heterogeneous mixture. It contains different substances (rocks, shells, metals etc.) that are not uniformly distributed.
• Option D: Sulfur (\(S\)) is an element, not a mixture. An element consists of only one type of atom.

Answer:

C. beach sand, a substance that can contain rocks, shells, metals and other substances distributed unevenly throughout