Final answer:
Brass best represents a homogeneous mixture of an element and a compound, as it consists of zinc (element) and copper (compound) uniformly mixed together, making it a homogeneous mixture.Option 3 is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brass is the best representation of a homogeneous mixture of an element (zinc) and a compound (copper), as these two substances are uniformly mixed, and the composition is constant throughout the mixture.
Classifying substances
- Salt - compound
- Pure water - compound
- Soil - heterogeneous mixture
- Salt water - homogeneous mixture
- Pure air - homogeneous mixture
- Carbon dioxide - compound
- Gold - element
- Bronze - homogeneous mixture
When salt (NaCl) is dissolved in water (H2O), it forms saltwater, which is a solution, another term for a homogeneous mixture.
The best representation of a homogeneous mixture of an element and a compound is 3) Brass. Brass is an alloy consisting of copper (an element) and zinc (a compound). Homogeneous mixtures have uniform composition throughout, and in the case of brass, copper and zinc atoms are uniformly distributed, creating a single-phase material. In contrast, options 1) Saltwater and 4) Vinegar are homogeneous mixtures of compounds dissolved in water, while 2) Air is a homogeneous mixture of gases. However, brass uniquely combines an element and a compound in a homogeneous alloy, making it the most suitable choice for the given scenario.