Which statements accurately describe matter? Check all that apply.

Question

Only living things are made up of matter.
Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
Atoms were discovered in the twenty-first century.
Atoms cannot be divided and still retain the properties of its original state.
A single atom can be seen only with a standard microscope.

Answer 1

The following statements accurately describe matter:

1. Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
   • This statement is correct; all matter consists of atoms.

The other statements are not accurate:

2. Only living things are made up of matter.

   • This statement is incorrect; all substances, both living and non-living, are made of matter.

3. Atoms were discovered in the twenty-first century.

   • This statement is incorrect; the concept of atoms dates back to ancient times, and the modern understanding of atoms developed in the 19th century.

4. Atoms cannot be divided and still retain the properties of its original state.

   • This statement is incorrect; while atoms are the basic unit of matter, they can be divided into subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, electrons) and still retain properties that are characteristic of elements, though not of the original atom itself.

5. A single atom can be seen only with a standard microscope.

   • This statement is incorrect; single atoms cannot be visualized with standard optical microscopes. Specialized tools like electron microscopes are needed to observe individual atoms.

Thus, the only accurate statement is: "Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms."