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← Nature of Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

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Lesson 2 of 18

Substances that will not come apart

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6 min

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Pass electricity through water, and two gases come out. Do that to pure gold, and nothing new comes out.

A chemical change makes new substances.

Copper: one substance, before any test.
Step 1 of 3
  1. Copper: one substance, before any test.
  2. A chemical change is tried on it.
  3. Still copper. Nothing simpler comes out.

An element is a substance that cannot be broken into simpler ones. Copper, aluminium, sulfur and helium are elements. Scientists know 118 elements. An atom is the smallest particle of an element.

The rule

An element is a substance that cannot be broken into simpler ones. All its atoms are of one kind. Water is not an element: electricity splits it into hydrogen and oxygen.

A teacher shows the water test in class. Do not try it at home.

Pick a substance. See if anything simpler comes out.

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Try the lab to finish this lesson.