Is cooking oil a mixture or solution?

Cooking oil is generally a mixture. It is composed of various types of fats and oils, each with its own unique chemical structure and properties. These components can include triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols, among others. While some cooking oils may appear homogeneous and have a consistent texture, they are still considered mixtures due to the presence of multiple chemical substances.

In contrast, a solution is a homogeneous mixture where the components are evenly dispersed and indistinguishable from each other at the molecular level. In a solution, the solute particles are completely dissolved in the solvent, forming a single phase. Cooking oil does not meet this criterion as the different types of fats and oils present do not completely dissolve into a uniform substance.

Therefore, cooking oil is classified as a mixture rather than a solution.