Water is a compound because it
A. cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
B. always has two hydrogen atoms for each oxygen atom.
C. is made of water atoms joined together.
D. both a and b
A is wrong so is it D?
Can you not break 2H2O molecules into 2H2 and O2 ?
So what is wrong with B ?
To determine if water is a compound and select the correct choice, we need to understand the definition of a compound and examine the characteristics of water.
A compound is a substance composed of two or more different elements chemically bonded together. Water is indeed a compound because it consists of two different elements, hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O), chemically bonded together.
Option A states that water cannot be broken down into simpler substances, which is true. Water molecules are made up of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, and these molecules cannot be further broken down without altering their chemical composition.
Option B states that water always has two hydrogen atoms for each oxygen atom, which is also true. The chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom.
Considering the above explanations, Option D, "both a and b," is the correct choice. Water satisfies both criteria for being a compound: it cannot be broken down into simpler substances and always has two hydrogen atoms for each oxygen atom.