Final answer:
Substances can be classified as atomic elements, molecular elements, molecular compounds, or ionic compounds based on their composition and bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Substances can be classified as atomic elements, molecular elements, molecular compounds, or ionic compounds based on their composition and bonding.
- Atomic elements are composed of single atoms of the same element. Examples include hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
- Molecular elements are composed of two or more atoms of the same element bonded together. Examples include diatomic molecules like oxygen (O2) and chlorine (Cl2).
- Molecular compounds are composed of atoms of different elements bonded together. Examples include water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Ionic compounds are composed of ions held together by electrostatic forces. Examples include magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen iodide (HI).