Question

Jack's teacher has a box of objects. He asks each student to pull out an object and identify whether it is a mixture or a pure substance.

Jack pulls out a piece of iron. What is this object and why is it a mixture or a pure substance?
A.
a pure substance, because there are several things making up the object
B.
a mixture, because there are several things making up the object
C.
a mixture, because it is only composed of one thing
D.
a pure substance, because it is only composed of one thing

Answer 1

D.

A piece of iron is a pure substance (an element) because it’s made of only one kind of atom (iron). Mixtures contain two or more different substances combined (for example, steel is an alloy/mixture of iron and carbon).