"How does a gas differ from a liquid with respect to the following property:

Ability to mix with other substances of the same phase to form homogeneous mixtures

Gases form homogeneous mixtures with each other regardless of the identities or relative proportions of the component gases.

But what about liquids? All I can gather is that they can form solutions with other liquids.

* chem - bobpursley, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 4:02pm

A solution is a homogenous mixture, same words as you did on the gases. "

So, to clarify, there is no difference? Both liquids and gases have the ability to mix with other substances of the same phase to form homogeneous mixtures?

1 answer

Unlike gases that are all miscible in all proportions, not all liquids are miscible in all proportions so that it is possible to get more than one liquid phase. Take for example water, chloroform and mercury. All are liquids, yet are not miscible so the three together in a container will form three liquid phases.

When the liquids are miscible they form a single homogeneous liquid. For example acetic acid (vinegar) and water form a single homogeneous liquid, another example being ethanol and water.