Final answer:
A pure chemical substance consisting of a single type of atom is an element. Elements are simple substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. Mercury is an example of an element, while table sugar (sucrose) is a compound, white wine is a homogeneous mixture, and ranch-style salad dressing is a heterogeneous mixture.
So the correct answer is Option A
Step-by-step explanation:
A pure chemical substance that consists of a single type of atom is known as an element. Each element is composed of identical atoms that share the same atomic number, which corresponds to the number of protons in their nuclei. Examples of elements include gold, oxygen, and hydrogen. An element cannot be broken down into a simpler substance via chemical means.
Classification of Matter
Mixtures: These can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition, such as salt dissolved in water. A heterogeneous mixture contains different substances that are not uniformly distributed, like a salad dressing.
To illustrate, mercury is an element, table sugar (sucrose) is a compound, white wine is a homogeneous mixture, and ranch-style salad dressing is a heterogeneous mixture.
Elements and Compounds
An important distinction in the realm of chemistry is between elements and compounds. While elements are the simplest forms of matter that cannot be broken down further, compounds consist of two or more elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. Every sample of a given compound will have the same composition and properties.
The correct answer is Option A