Question

Classify each substance in Problem 2.3 as an element, compound, or mixture, and explain your answers.

Short answer

1. Calcium chloride is a compound.
2. Sulphur is an element.
3. Baking powder is a mixture.
4. Cytosine is a compound.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of elements, compounds and mixtures

An element is a pure substance that is made up of similar type of atoms.

A compound is formed when more than one kind of atom combine in a definite ratio. The components of a compound cannot be separated using physical methods.

Two or more substances are present in a mixture, but no definite ratio is maintained. The components of a mixture can be separated using physical methods like distillation, filtration, sedimentation, sublimation, etc.

Identification

1. By the definition of compounds, we can say that calcium chloride is a compound as it is made by combining two different elements, calcium and chlorine, in a fixed mass ratio of 1:2.
2. As Sulfur consists of only sulfur atoms combined into octatomic molecules so it is an element.
3. As Baking powder does not have a fixed ratio of its components so it is a mixture.
4. As in cytosine atoms of different elements are bonded together so it is a compound.