Question

Scientists have developed a new drug known to cure a previously incurable disease. What best explains if the new drug is a compound or not?

It is a compound because it will be able to cure a disease.
It is not a compound because it was developed by scientists.
It is a compound because compounds make all types of matter.
It is not a compound because compounds make up only living things.

Answer 1

The drugs used for curing disease are compounds as they are made up of many elements.

The elements cannot be developed as new drug as we have already discovered / made new elements.

and a single element cannot be used for treatment of any diseases .

In addition

a) compounds are developed by scientists

b) compound also make up non living things like calcium carbonate etc

So answer is It is a compound because it will be able to cure a disease.

Answer 2

All the drugs ever formed are compounds. An element in itself can't cure a disease, but couple with other elements, most probably also with carbon, it can attain attributes that may help in fighting diseases. Organic drugs are also manufactured by scientists by using animals and plant parts and replicating them. Compounds also make up non-living things. Salt (NaCl) is a classical example of this.