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Chapter 1: Problem 6

True or false? A compound is a pure substance, but a pure substance need not be a compound. Give examples to prove your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
True. A compound, like water (H2O) or table salt (NaCl), is a pure substance because it has a fixed composition throughout, and the components are chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion. However, a pure substance need not be a compound, because it can also be an element like gold (Au) or oxygen gas (O2), which have the same composition throughout and cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Step by step solution

01

Define a Compound

A compound is a substance made up of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion. Compounds have specific properties that are different from the individual elements that make them up.
02

Define a Pure Substance

A pure substance is a material that has a constant, unchanging composition throughout. It cannot be separated into its components by physical methods (such as distillation or filtration). There are two main types of pure substances: elements and compounds.
03

Analyze the Statement

The given statement is "A compound is a pure substance, but a pure substance need not be a compound." The first part of the statement claims that a compound is a pure substance. We know that a compound has a fixed composition throughout, so it meets the criteria for being a pure substance. The second part of the statement claims that a pure substance does not necessarily have to be a compound. As mentioned before, there are two types of pure substances: elements and compounds. Therefore, it is true that a pure substance does not have to be a compound.
04

Give Examples

Examples of compounds as pure substances: 1. Water (H2O) - It consists of hydrogen and oxygen chemically bonded together in the proportion of 2:1. 2. Table salt (NaCl) - It is formed by the chemical combination of sodium and chlorine in the proportion of 1:1. Examples of pure substances that are not compounds: 1. Gold (Au) - It is an element and cannot be broken down into simpler substances. It has the same composition throughout. 2. Oxygen gas (O2) - An element, consisting of molecules made up of two oxygen atoms bonded together. With these explanations and examples, we can conclude that the statement is true. A compound is a pure substance, but a pure substance need not be a compound.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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