We investigate the ground-state phase diagram of the quantum mixed spin cha
in in which two S = 1/2 and two S=1 spins are arranged alternatively and is
otropic exchange interactions between nearest-neighboring pairs of spins ar
e assumed. Guided by our previous results [J. Phys. Sec. Jpn. 67 (1998) 100
0] for a few limiting cases of the exchange interactions, we carry out a de
nsity-matrix renormalization-group calculation to determine the ground-stat
e phase diagram in detail. From the gapless points of the singlet-triplet e
nergy gap, five boundary lines are determined, which divide the phase diagr
am into six regions. In three regions the ground states with the Haldane-ph
ase character appear, while in the remaining three regions those with the d
imer character appear. We also present a characterization of the phases con
cerning how the ground state in each phase is represented in the framework
of the valence-bond-solid (VBS) picture. Making use of the matrix-product w
ave function, we classify the VBS pictures and interpret the ground-state p
hase diagram in terms of symmetries schematically related to the VBS pictur
es. We investigate the ground-state nearest-neighboring two-spin correlatio
n functions and a kind of string order parameters, by which we confirm the
validity of the characterization.