Question

some early philosophers cónidered elements to be earth, wind, water and fire. Why do chemists today no longer classìy water as an element

Answer 1

Chemists do not classify water as an element because it is composed of two different types of atoms, hydrogen and oxygen. An element is a pure substance consisting of only one type of atom. Therefore, water is a compound, not an element. Chemists classify elements based on the number of protons in their atomic nuclei, which determines their unique chemical and physical properties.