Students are each given a 20 gram sample of an unknown solid compound in a clear plastic bag. They are instructed to break the material into smaller parts by gently hitting it with a hammer. Some of the parts break into large chunks and some look like a fine powder. Which statement correctly describes these broken pieces of the sample?

The pieces of fine powder are individual atoms.

The larger pieces are still compounds and the smaller pieces are elements.

Each piece contains the same number of atoms.

Each piece contains the same proportion of different elements.

Question

Dominique Odom

Chemistry

18 October, 15:22

Students are each given a 20 gram sample of an unknown solid compound in a clear plastic bag. They are instructed to break the material into smaller parts by gently hitting it with a hammer. Some of the parts break into large chunks and some look like a fine powder. Which statement correctly describes these broken pieces of the sample?

The pieces of fine powder are individual atoms.

The larger pieces are still compounds and the smaller pieces are elements.

Each piece contains the same number of atoms.

Each piece contains the same proportion of different elements.

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Carolina Ritter · Answer 1

I believe the correct answer from the choices listed above is the last option. The statement that correctly describes the broken pieces of the sample would be that each piece contains the same proportion of different elements. They would have the same composition of the elements since compounds cannot be break into elements just by mechanical means.