Blood is considered a mixture rather than a pure substance for several reasons:
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Composition of Cellular Components: Blood is composed of various types of cells, including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes), suspended in a liquid plasma. Each of these components retains its distinct properties and functions, making blood a heterogeneous mixture.
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Presence of Plasma Proteins and Solutes: Blood plasma contains a variety of proteins (such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen), electrolytes, hormones, nutrients, and waste products. The varying concentrations of these different solutes contribute to the complexity of blood and further confirm that it is a mixture.
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Separation Techniques: Blood can be separated into its individual components through processes such as centrifugation. This ability to separate into distinct parts (cellular and liquid components) highlights its nature as a mixture, as pure substances cannot be separated into their constituent parts without changing their chemical identity.
These factors combine to illustrate why blood is classified as a mixture rather than a single, homogeneous substance.
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