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Quizzes > Science

Mixture particle diagram quiz: spot mixtures and pure substances

Quick, free particle diagram practice for chemistry. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Emily FranceUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art quiz graphic showing three particle diagrams on sky blue background labeled mixture pure substance xenon at STP

This quiz helps you read a mixture particle diagram and tell mixtures from pure substances. You will practice identifying elements, compounds, and particles in homogeneous and heterogeneous samples, with instant explanations. If you want more review, try our mixtures and pure substances quiz, work through composition of mixtures practice problems, or check your understanding with a heterogeneous vs homogeneous quiz.

Which diagram shows only one type of particle, indicating a pure substance?
Blue and red spheres mixed evenly
Only blue spheres
Yellow spheres widely spaced
Blue and red spheres in separate regions
A pure substance contains only one type of particle, so a diagram with exclusively blue spheres represents a pure substance. Mixtures contain two or more different particle types. In a homogeneous mixture you would see different colors evenly distributed, and a heterogeneous mixture shows separation of colors. For more details on pure substances, see .
Which diagram shows two distinct types of particles evenly distributed, representing a homogeneous mixture?
Only red particles
Yellow spaced atoms
Green particles clustered separate from red
Red and green particles evenly mixed
A homogeneous mixture has two or more particle types that are uniformly distributed throughout the sample. Seeing red and green particles mixed evenly indicates no macroscopic separation. Pure substances would have only one particle type. For further reading on mixtures, visit .
Which diagram indicates a heterogeneous mixture?
Blue and red mixed evenly
Blue and red clusters separated
Green widely spaced
Only blue
A heterogeneous mixture shows distinct regions of different composition, such as separated clusters of blue and red. Homogeneous mixtures have uniform distribution. A pure substance would show only one type of particle. See for more information.
Which diagram best represents xenon gas at STP?
Two types of spheres evenly mixed
Spheres clumped together
Identical yellow spheres widely spaced
Spheres bonded in pairs
Xenon is a monatomic gas at STP, so it appears as identical, widely spaced spheres in a diagram. Diatomic or bonded pairs would represent other gases like O? or N?, not xenon. Clumping suggests a liquid or solid phase, not a gas. To learn more about xenon gas properties, see .
Which diagram depicts a pure compound substance?
Unbonded blue and red spheres separated regions
Single green spheres only
Uniform clusters of one red and two green spheres
Mixed red and green unbonded particles
A pure compound consists of identical bonded groups of atoms, shown here as uniform red - green? clusters. Single spheres would indicate an element, and unbonded mixes indicate a mixture. Heterogeneous mixtures show region separation. For compound diagrams, see .
Which diagram shows a mixture of two gases, N? and O??
Monatomic and diatomic mixed
One color of diatomic molecules only
Only monatomic particles
Two colors of diatomic molecules evenly mixed
A mixture of N? and O? gases appears as two different-colored diatomic molecules uniformly distributed. Pure gases would show only one diatomic type. Monatomic particles represent noble gases, not N? or O?. More on gas mixtures is available at .
Which diagram represents a pure elemental gas?
Only purple diatomic molecules
Monatomic particles of one color
Mixed bonded clusters
Purple and blue diatomic molecules
A pure elemental gas like Cl? or N? appears as diatomic molecules of a single color. Monatomic particles represent noble gases rather than typical elemental gases. A mix of two colors indicates a gas mixture. For more on elemental gases, see .
Which diagram depicts a pure compound rather than a mixture?
Two monatomic species mixed
Single-colored monatomic atoms
Different bonded clusters of varying size
Identical two-color bonded pairs throughout
A pure compound is shown by identical bonded pairs (e.g., A - B) repeated throughout. Monatomic atoms would indicate an element, and varying clusters suggest a mixture. Uniform bonding demonstrates chemical uniformity. See for compound diagrams.
In a particle diagram, the presence of separate regions of different composition indicates what kind of sample?
Homogeneous mixture
Heterogeneous mixture
Pure substance
Xenon gas at STP
Separate regions of distinct particle types are the hallmark of a heterogeneous mixture. Homogeneous mixtures lack visible domains, and pure substances have only one particle type. Xenon gas at STP would appear as isolated monatomic spheres. More examples are at .
Which feature distinguishes a homogeneous mixture from a pure substance in a particle diagram?
More than one type of particle but evenly distributed
Particles clustered separately
Bonded diatomic particles only
Only one type of particle
A homogeneous mixture contains multiple particle types that are uniform throughout, unlike a pure substance which has only one type. Clustering indicates heterogeneity, while diatomic bonding alone doesn't define a mixture. Uniform multi-color distribution is key. Read more at .
Given a diagram with 70 blue spheres and 30 diatomic green molecules, what type of mixture is represented?
Pure compound
Heterogeneous mixture
Pure element
Homogeneous mixture of an element and a compound
The diagram shows two distinct particle types - monatomic blue spheres and diatomic green molecules - mixed uniformly, indicating a homogeneous mixture of an element and a compound. If it were pure, only one particle type would appear. Heterogeneous mixtures show clustering. See for more on mixture classifications.
In a diagram, atoms are shown as widely spaced monatomic spheres and as bonded pairs of different colors. What does this indicate?
A homogeneous pure substance
A pure compound
A heterogeneous mixture of liquids
A gaseous mixture of monatomic and diatomic species
Widely spaced monatomic spheres and bonded pairs mixed uniformly indicate a gas-phase mixture of noble gases (monatomic) and diatomic gases. Pure substances wouldn't show two particle types. Liquid phases have closer spacing. More on gas mixtures is at .
If a particle diagram shows identical clusters of three bonded atoms uniformly distributed, what is the most accurate classification?
Pure compound
Heterogeneous mixture
Elemental gas
Xenon at STP
Identical triatomic clusters throughout a diagram indicate a pure compound composed of three-atom molecules. Heterogeneous mixtures would show multiple types or separate regions. An elemental gas is diatomic or monatomic, and xenon is monatomic. For molecular classification, see .
A diagram shows monatomic yellow spheres in dense clusters and in sparse regions. What best describes this sample?
A pure compound
A heterogeneous mixture of two phases
A pure gas at STP
A homogeneous solution
Dense clusters and sparse areas of the same particle type indicate two different phases (e.g., liquid droplets in a gas), which is a heterogeneous mixture. A pure gas at STP would be uniformly spaced. Homogeneous solutions have no phase separation. For phase mixtures, see .
In a particle diagram representing a mixture, there are 90 monatomic red spheres and 10 diatomic blue molecule pairs. What is the mole fraction of the diatomic species?
0.12
0.05
0.10
0.20
The monatomic species contributes 90 moles and the diatomic contributes 10 moles (each pair counts as one mole), giving a total of 100 moles. The mole fraction of the diatomic species is 10/100 = 0.10. Mole fractions help quantify component ratios in mixtures. For mole fraction calculations, see .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify mixtures in diagrams -

    Analyze particle arrangements to determine which particle diagram represents a mixture of substances.

  2. Distinguish a single pure substance -

    Recognize which particle diagram represents one pure substance only by evaluating uniformity and composition.

  3. Recognize a xenon sample at STP -

    Apply knowledge of standard temperature and pressure to identify which particle diagram represents a sample of xenon at STP.

  4. Detect gas-phase substances -

    Interpret particle spacing and behavior to decide which particle diagram represents one substance in the gas phase.

  5. Analyze diatomic element mixtures -

    Select which two particle diagrams represent mixtures of diatomic elements by observing molecular pairings.

  6. Apply critical thinking to chemistry quizzes -

    Combine conceptual understanding and analytical skills to accurately answer quiz questions and reinforce key chemistry principles.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mixture vs. Pure Substance -

    When a diagram shows more than one type of particle (different colors or shapes), it represents a mixture rather than a pure substance. Pure substances contain only one particle type - either a single element or a compound - so spotting uniformity is key (Chem1, Oregon State University). Use the "one-color rule" mnemonic: one color = pure, multiple colors = mixture.

  2. Diatomic Element Mixtures -

    Elements like H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, and I₂ naturally exist as diatomic molecules; a diagram mixing two of these (e.g., red-red and blue-blue pairs) shows a mixture of diatomic elements. Recognizing which two particle diagrams represent mixtures of diatomic elements helps you distinguish molecular identity by pair shape (Royal Society of Chemistry). Remember "Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer" to list diatomics.

  3. Xenon at STP Representation -

    Xenon is a monatomic noble gas at standard temperature and pressure, meaning its particle diagram features widely spaced, single atoms with no bonds. Because one mole of gas occupies 22.414 L at STP (0 °C, 1 atm), diagrams should reflect a sparse distribution, indicating which particle diagram represents a sample of xenon at STP (NIST). Monatomic and evenly scattered: that's your xenon clue!

  4. One Pure Substance Only -

    A diagram where all particles are identical in color, shape, and bonding pattern signals one pure substance only, whether it's an element or a compound. For instance, uniform diatomic pairs (O₂ only) or identical triatomic molecules (CO₂ only) confirm purity (Chemguide, UK). Ask yourself: "Do I see any intruder particles?" If not, it's pure.

  5. Gas Phase Identification -

    Gas-phase diagrams show particles far apart with no fixed arrangement, unlike liquids or solids. To spot which particle diagram represents one substance in the gas phase, look for high spacing and random distribution, matching the ideal gas law PV=nRT relationship (MIT OpenCourseWare). Think "space and speed" to remember gas-phase visuals!

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