Multiple Choice
Which of the following substances cannot be broken down by a chemical change?
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1. Intro to General Chemistry
Classification of Matter
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Which of the following substances cannot be broken down by a chemical reaction?
A
Water (H_2O)
B
Carbon dioxide (CO_2)
C
Gold (Au)
D
Oxygen (O_2)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of chemical decomposition: A substance that can be broken down by a chemical reaction is called a compound, which consists of two or more elements chemically bonded together.
Identify the substances given: Water (H\_2O), Carbon dioxide (CO\_2), Oxygen (O\_2), and Gold (Au).
Recognize that Water, Carbon dioxide, and Oxygen are compounds or molecules made of multiple atoms bonded together, so they can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.
Recall that Gold (Au) is an element, meaning it consists of only one type of atom and cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances.
Conclude that the substance that cannot be broken down by a chemical reaction is Gold (Au), because it is a pure element.
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