Question

What is one way to describe elements?

a) "Substances that cannot be separated"
b) "Atoms that combine to form molecules"
c) "Substances made up of multiple compounds"
d) "Fundamental substances that make up matter"

Answer 1

Elements are fundamental substances made up of one type of atom and cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances. The Periodic Table organizes elements by their properties, while compounds are combinations of different elements like water (H₂O).

Step-by-step explanation:

One way to describe elements is to say they are fundamental substances that make up matter. Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances through chemical means. Each element is made up of just one type of atom. For example, iron, which is an element, cannot be reduced into other substances, unlike compounds which are composed of more than one element in a definite proportion by weight. The Periodic Table of the Elements organizes all the known elements by their properties.

Compounds, on the other hand, result from the combination of two or more elements, like water (H₂O), which is made up of hydrogen and oxygen in a specific ratio. Molecules can be formed from the same element, like O₂, or different elements, resulting in a compound. Molecules are the smallest part of a substance that retains the chemical properties of that substance.

Answer 2

An element can be described as a fundamental substance composed of one type of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. It has constant composition and unique properties, is categorized in the periodic table, and forms molecules when atoms combine.

Step-by-step explanation:

One way to describe an element is as a fundamental substance that makes up matter. Technically, elements are substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances with different properties through ordinary chemical means. An element is a pure substance composed of only one type of atom, such as iron (Fe) or oxygen (O). Each element has a constant composition and distinct physical and chemical properties. The periodic table categorizes these elements based on their properties. Furthermore, when two or more atoms of an element or different elements combine, they form a molecule, which is the smallest unit of a compound that retains its chemical properties. Compounds have a constant composition with elements present in fixed ratios, such as H₂O for water. Unlike elements, compounds can be broken down into simpler substances.