Which cannot be broken down chemically or physically into a simpler substance between sugar, salt, seawater, and copper?
copper is an element, and the others are compounds or mixtures. That help?
To determine which substance cannot be broken down chemically or physically into simpler substances, we need to consider the nature of these substances.
1. Sugar: Sugar, also known as sucrose, is a compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. It can be broken down into simpler substances through chemical reactions. For example, when sugar is heated, it decomposes into carbon and water.
2. Salt: Salt, or sodium chloride, is a compound composed of sodium and chlorine ions bonded together. It can be broken down into its elements through chemical reactions, such as electrolysis. By passing an electric current through molten salt, the sodium and chlorine ions can be separated.
3. Seawater: Seawater is a mixture of various substances, including salt, dissolved gases, minerals, and organic compounds. While the salt in seawater, as mentioned earlier, can be separated into its elements, the other components in seawater can also be isolated through physical or chemical processes. For instance, evaporation can help separate water from the dissolved substances.
4. Copper: Copper is an element and, as such, cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances. It is a pure substance made up of copper atoms, and it retains its elemental form regardless of physical changes, such as melting or boiling.
Therefore, among the given options, copper is the substance that cannot be broken down chemically or physically into a simpler substance.