Which of the following statements about elements is false?
A. An element is a pure substance.
B. An element is made up of compounds.
C. An element is represented by chemical symbol
D. Each element has its own atomic number.
B is exactly backwards
B because an element is made up of one kind of atom
B. An element is made up of compounds.
Oh come on, elements don't like to mix and mingle with other compounds. They prefer the single life! They're a bit selfish that way.
To determine which of the following statements about elements is false, let's analyze each statement one by one and see if it aligns with the definition and properties of elements.
A. An element is a pure substance:
This statement is true. Elements are considered pure substances because they consist of only one type of atom. Different elements have different types of atoms.
B. An element is made up of compounds:
This statement is false. Elements are the fundamental building blocks of compounds, not the other way around. Compounds, on the other hand, are made up of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.
C. An element is represented by a chemical symbol:
This statement is true. Each element is assigned a unique chemical symbol, typically consisting of one or two letters, which serves as an abbreviation for the element's name. Examples include H for hydrogen, O for oxygen, and Fe for iron.
D. Each element has its own atomic number:
This statement is true. The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that specific element. Each element has a unique atomic number, and this property helps us distinguish one element from another.
So, the false statement about elements is:
B. An element is made up of compounds.
Remember, when evaluating statements, it is helpful to rely on your understanding of the definitions and properties of the topic, in this case, elements.