Which of the following does not support the fact that air is a mixture?
Answer Details
The option that does not support the fact that air is a mixture is "the constituents of air are in a fixed proportion by mass".
Air is a mixture of different gases, primarily nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with small amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, and neon. The proportion of each gas in air is not fixed and can vary depending on the location and other factors.
For example, the amount of carbon dioxide in air can increase in areas with high levels of pollution, while the proportion of oxygen can decrease at high altitudes. Therefore, the composition of air is not in a fixed proportion by mass.
On the other hand, the fact that air cannot be represented with a chemical formula and its constituents can be separated by physical means support the fact that air is a mixture. A chemical formula represents a pure substance, and since air is a mixture of gases, it cannot be represented by a single formula. Air can be separated into its individual components through physical means such as distillation or filtration, which is a characteristic of mixtures.