Could a mixture be made up of only elements and no compounds? Explain why or why not.
no
I think no
Yes, a mixture can indeed be made up of only elements and no compounds. A mixture is a combination of substances that are physically combined and can be separated by physical means.
Elements, on the other hand, are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. They consist of only one type of atom. For example, oxygen, helium, iron, and carbon are all elements.
When different elements are mixed together, a mixture is formed. This can occur in various ways, such as mechanically mixing solid elements or gases, or dissolving one element in another. An example of a mixture of elements is a mixture of iron filings and sulfur powder.
On the other hand, compounds are substances formed by the chemical combination of different elements in fixed proportions. Compounds have a specific chemical formula and properties distinct from their constituent elements. For example, water (H2O) is a compound consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Therefore, while a mixture can include elements, it does not necessarily include compounds. It can solely consist of various elements physically mixed together without undergoing any chemical bonding or reaction.