Question

Classify the following as element or compounds.

Iron, sulphur, washing soda, sodium, chalk.

Answer 1

Element:

• An element is a pure substance made up of only the same type of particles or atoms.
• It can not be split into simpler substances by chemical means.
• For example, Iron, sulphur, sodium.
• Here, Iron is made up of only Iron atoms$\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$, sulphur is made up of only sulphur atoms$\left(S\right)$ and sodium is made up of only sodium atoms$\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$.

Compound:

• A compound is a substance that can be split into simpler and different substances by chemical means.
• For example, $\mathrm{Washing}\mathrm{soda}\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3.10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and chalk$\left({\mathrm{CaCO}}_3\right)$.
• Here, Washing soda and chalk is a compound made with different substances.

Conclusion:

Examples of elements: Iron, sulphur, and sodium.

Examples of compounds: Washing soda and chalk.