Question

What are different types of pure substances? Give two examples of each.

Answer 1

Pure substances are bifurcated into two categories:

• Elements

An element is the purest form of matter which is made up of only one type of atoms. For instance, gold $\left(\mathrm{Au}\right)$ and silver $\left(\mathrm{Ag}\right)$ are made of only gold and silver atoms.

• Compounds

When two or more substances of the same or different elements combine together in a simple whole-number ratio is known as a compound. For instance,

1. Water$\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ is a compound as it is made up of two elements, hydrogen, and oxygen, combined in a simple whole ratio i.e., 2:1.
2. Hydrogen chloride $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$ is a compound as it is made up of two elements, hydrogen, and chloride, combined in a simple whole ratio i.e., 1:1.