Question

Is water an element or a compound? Give reason in support of your answer

Answer 1

Element:

• An element is composed of the same atoms that is, each atom has the same number of protons in its nucleus as all other atoms of that element..
• An element has fixed melting and boiling points.

Compound:

• A compound is a substance that results from a combination of two or more different chemical elements.
• The elements in a compound are in a fixed proportion.
• The compounds have a definite set of properties different from their constituent elements.
• The compounds can be broken down into constituent particles chemically only.

Water:

• The chemical reaction between the elements, hydrogen and oxygen molecules forms water.
• Water cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical methods like magnetic separation, winnowing, etc.
• The property of water is completely different from its constituent elements hydrogen and oxygen.
• Hence, water is a compound.