Mixtures and solutions

How did knowledge of chemical mixtures prevent a major incident in the London Underground? When an accidental leak of wet, quick-drying concrete flooded London’s Victoria underground station control room, engineers’ quick thinking and chemical knowledge prevented total disaster. They mixed large amounts of sugar into the concrete, slowing down the setting process, and allowing them time to clear up the spill.

Mixtures and solutions are a common occurrence in our everyday lives. They are the air we breathe, the drinks and foods we consume and the fabrics we clothe ourselves in. By studying how chemists distinguish pure substances from mixtures and solutions, students will start to appreciate how matter is organised at the atomic level. With this knowledge, we can manipulate matter to improve our health and quality of life.