The primary substance from which all other chemical compounds and substances are made is a____________.
A) element
B) compound
C) mixture
D) pure substance
The correct answer is A) element. The primary substance from which all other chemical compounds and substances are made is an element. Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
The primary substance from which all other chemical compounds and substances are made is an element. To understand why an element is the correct answer, let's go through the options:
A) Element: An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means. It consists of only one type of atom.
B) Compound: A compound is a substance made up of two or more different elements that are chemically combined. Compounds have a fixed ratio of atoms.
C) Mixture: A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are physically combined and can be separated by physical means, such as filtration or evaporation.
D) Pure Substance: This term is a general category that includes both elements and compounds. It refers to a substance that has a fixed composition and distinct properties.
Based on the definition and the fact that compounds are made up of elements, the correct answer is A) element.