What is a key feature of a heterogeneous mixture?

A key feature of a heterogeneous mixture is that its components are easily distinguished and separated. This characteristic arises from the fact that in a heterogeneous mixture, the different substances retain their individual properties and do not blend uniformly. For example, when you mix sand and salt, you can still see the individual grains of sand and the salt crystals, and you can separate them by physical means, such as filtration or hand-picking.

The other choices do not accurately describe heterogeneous mixtures. They may imply homogeneity or a lack of separability, which contradicts the nature of heterogeneous mixtures. For instance, a consistent texture and single-phase composition are characteristics of homogeneous mixtures, where the components are uniformly distributed. The notion that a heterogeneous mixture cannot be separated is also inaccurate, as the very essence of such mixtures allows for separation of the distinct components.