Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the difference between an element and a compound in the classification of matter?
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3. Matter and Energy
Classification of Matter
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In the classification of matter, how is a compound different from an element?
A
A compound can be separated into its components only by physical changes, whereas an element can be broken down by chemical reactions.
B
A compound contains only one kind of atom, whereas an element contains two or more kinds of atoms chemically bonded.
C
A compound is a physical mixture of substances that can be separated by filtration, whereas an element cannot be separated by physical means.
D
A compound is made of two or more different elements chemically bonded in fixed proportions, whereas an element consists of only one type of atom.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the definition of an element: An element is a pure substance that consists of only one type of atom. It cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
Understand the definition of a compound: A compound is a pure substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together in fixed proportions.
Recognize that compounds have properties different from the elements that compose them, due to the chemical bonds between atoms.
Note that elements cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions, while compounds can be broken down into their constituent elements through chemical reactions.
Distinguish that physical methods (like filtration or physical separation) cannot separate compounds into elements, because the atoms are chemically bonded, not just physically mixed.
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