Question

Coal is an element.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

Coal is a mixture of hydrocarbons [compounds containing Hydrogen $\left(\mathrm{H}\right)$ and Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$] along with varying amounts of other elements like Sulphur $\left(\mathrm{S}\right)$, Nitrogen $\left(\mathrm{N}\right)$, Oxygen $\left(\mathrm{O}\right)$, moisture $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ etc.

• It is not an element because it does not contain only one type of atoms.
• It is not a compound because it does not have a fixed proportion of elements combined chemically.
• Rather, in coal a lot of different elements and compounds are present to form a mixture.

Element: An element is a pure substance that cannot be split into simpler substances.

• Example: Hydrogen $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\right)$, Copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ etc.

Compound: A compound is a pure substance in which elements combine chemically in a fixed composition to give a compound.

• They can be broken down into elements that make up the compound by using chemical or electrochemical methods.
• The properties of the compound are entirely different from the elements from which it is formed.
• Example: Water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$, Common salt i.e.; Sodium chloride $\left(\mathrm{NaCl}\right)$

Mixture: When two or more substances (elements or compounds or an element and compound) are mixed in any proportion.

• The components of a mixture can be separated by physical methods of separation.
• Example: A mixture of Sand and Iron $\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$ can be separated by using a magnet (physical process) where Iron gets attracted to the magnet leaving behind sand.

Therefore, the given statement is false.