Is chilli a element compound or mixture?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Mixture
Chilli is classified as a mixture, not an element or a compound. A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are physically combined but not chemically bonded. Chilli, whether in its whole form or ground as powder, contains a variety of components that retain their individual properties. These components include water, vitamins, pigments like carotenoids, capsaicin (the substance that makes chilli hot), proteins, oils, and fibers.
Unlike an element, which consists of only one type of atom, chilli includes many different substances. An example of an element would be oxygen or gold. These are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Chilli clearly does not meet this definition, since it is made of multiple ingredients and chemical substances.
Chilli is also not a compound. A compound is formed when two or more elements are chemically combined in a fixed ratio, such as water (H₂O) or carbon dioxide (CO₂). In a compound, the individual components lose their original properties and create a new substance with different characteristics. In chilli, the various parts such as oils, fibers, capsaicin, and water still retain their own properties, which means no chemical bonding has created a new substance.
Furthermore, when you grind or cook chilli, you are not changing its chemical identity; you are simply mixing or heating the components. This reinforces the idea that chilli is a mixture, since mixtures can be physically separated and their components identified. The taste, texture, and appearance of chilli vary depending on the variety and preparation method, another sign of it being a mixture rather than a uniform compound.
Therefore, chilli fits the definition of a mixture due to its physical combination of several substances that can still be individually identified.
