Heterogeneous is an adjective that can take the meaning of difference, diversity, plurality or variety.
The word is used when it is meant, in a given context, that a situation, an object or a circumstance is varied, non-uniform, with inequalities or that has different elements in a group.
Societies, people, opinions and ideas can also be classified as heterogeneous when they are different from one another.
See these examples:
The texture of this stone floor is heterogeneous.
The population of Brazil is very heterogeneous because it is made up of many descendants of immigrants.
This is a heterogeneous work group, formed by professionals from different areas.
Water and oil are heterogeneous substances, so they don't mix.
heterogeneous in chemistry
In chemistry the term heterogeneous is used to refer to two or more substances that have different characteristics and that, for this reason, don't mix evenly.
Heterogeneous mixtures have more than one phase, as the separation of substances can be seen. For example: the mixtures can be two-phase (if they have two phases) or three-phase (if they have three different phases).
Thus, the heterogeneous in chemistry refers to a mixture in which the substances are not uniformly mixed and it is possible to perceive the different substances that are present.
Difference between heterogeneous and homogeneous
In chemistry, the difference between heterogeneous and homogeneous substances is defined according to their ability to mix.
When two or more substances do not have the ability to blend in completely, are called heterogeneous. Thus, the mixture could be, for example, two-phase or three-phase.
The best known example is the case of water and oil that, even when mixed, separate again, making it possible to easily visualize the two substances. In this example we have a biphasic heterogeneous mixture.
If the substances mix completely, it will be the case of a homogeneous mixture. This example deals with a single-phase mixture, as the final solution has only one mixing phase.
Mixing water with sugar is an example of homogeneous mixture. After the substances are stirred and mixed it is not possible to distinguish water from sugar.
heterogeneous nodule
Heterogeneous nodule is a term associated with the medical field. Heterogeneous nodules are nodules that can be seen on imaging tests such as ultrasound or ultrasound.
In these exams, the nodules appear darker in color because the human tissue being examined reflects little of the waves sent by the exam apparatus.
These nodules are called hypoechoic nodules.
Synonyms for heterogeneous
They can be used synonymously with the word heterogeneous, depending on the context used: varied, distinct, different, diverse, plural, non-uniform and unequal.
The antonym of the word heterogeneous is homogeneous.
See also the meaning of Homogeneous.