Answer:Mixtures can be distinguished by observing their physical properties. In a mixture, two or more substances are combined without undergoing a chemical change, meaning each substance keeps its original identity. One way to identify a mixture is that its components can be separated through physical means such as filtering, sorting, or evaporation. Mixtures also have a variable composition, which means the amount of each substance can change without affecting the mixture itself. They can be homogeneous, where the mixture looks the same throughout, like salt dissolved in water, or heterogeneous, where the different parts are visible, like a fruit salad. These characteristics help us tell mixtures apart from pure substances and compounds.