What is the difference between pure substance, element, and compound
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A pure substance is a material that consists of only one type of particle. This can be either an element or a compound. The key characteristic of a pure substance is that its composition is uniform throughout, and it has distinct physical and chemical properties that do not change. Examples of pure substances include pure water, oxygen gas, and gold.
An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Each element is made up of atoms of a single type, and all the atoms of that element have the same number of protons. For example, hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) are elements. Elements are the fundamental building blocks of matter, and they are organized on the periodic table.
A compound is a pure substance composed of two or more different elements that are chemically bonded together. The elements in a compound are present in fixed ratios, and they cannot be separated by physical means. Compounds have unique properties that differ from those of the elements that make them up. For example, water (H2O) is a compound made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms bonded together. Sodium chloride (NaCl), or table salt, is another example of a compound made from sodium and chlorine elements.
In summary, the main differences are:
- A pure substance is any material that consists of only one type of particle (either an element or a compound).
- An element is a pure substance that contains only one type of atom and cannot be chemically broken down further.
- A compound is a pure substance made of two or more different elements that are chemically combined.
These three concepts represent different ways in which matter can exist, either as individual elements or as combinations of elements with new properties.
