Question

*53. classify the following materials as an element, compound, or mixture. give reasons for your answers.
a. table salt (nacl)
b. salt water
c. sodium (na)

Explanation:

Part a: Table salt (NaCl)

A compound is a substance made of two or more different elements chemically bonded in a fixed ratio. NaCl is composed of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms bonded together in a 1:1 ratio, so it is a compound.

A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are physically mixed (not chemically bonded) and can be separated by physical means. Salt water has salt (NaCl) and water (H₂O) physically mixed, so it is a mixture.

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom. Sodium (Na) consists of only sodium atoms, so it is an element.

Answer:

Compound. Reason: NaCl is made of two different elements (Na and Cl) chemically bonded in a fixed ratio.

Part b: Salt water