Question

What is the meaning of Homogeneous?

Answer 1

Hint : The literal meaning of homogeneous means having the same kind of nature or having uniform structure and composition. It comes from the homogenes where homo means same and genos means kind or race. This term is used in several fields like in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Literature and even in mathematics.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
We will discuss the term in the case of Chemistry. A substance is homogeneous when it has the same properties and composition throughout. Examples of Homogeneous substances-
1. Pure salt is an example of a homogeneous substance.
2. Homogeneous mixture is also called solution like mixture of Alcohol and water or the mixture of copper and zinc which makes the alloy named brass.
3. Example of a homogeneous element is mercury in a thermometer.
4. Another example is Air in the balloon or salt and sugar dissolved in water.
5. In case of homogeneous catalysis, the reactants and the catalysts are in the same phase like acid catalysis.
 $ C{H_3}COOC{H_3}\xrightarrow{{HCl(aq.)}}C{H_3}COOH + C{H_3}OH $
In this case $ HCl $ acts as a catalyst and is in the same phase as that of the reactant Methyl ethanoate i.e. the aqueous phase.
6. Homogeneous Equilibrium is when all the reactants and products are in the same phase.
 $ 2S{O_2}_{(g)} + {O_2}_{(g)} \rightleftharpoons 2S{O_{3(g)}} $
This reaction is called the contact process where all reactants and products are in gaseous phase.

Note :
If the substance or solution is not homogeneous it is called heterogeneous. It has non-uniform composition or the property and composition is not constant throughout. Oil and water, sand in water, mixture of salt and sand, pebbles and salt all are examples of heterogeneous substances or mixtures.