Hydrogen peroxide, often used in solutions to cleanse cuts and scrapes, breaks down to yield water and oxygen: Hydrogen peroxide, H₂O₂ (aq) → Hydrogen, H₂ (g) + Oxygen, O₂ (g) b. Which of the substances are chemical compounds, and which are elements?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the substances involved in the reaction: hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydrogen (H₂), and oxygen (O₂).
2. Understand the definition of a chemical compound: a substance composed of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.
3. Recognize that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a chemical compound because it consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms bonded together.
4. Understand the definition of an element: a pure substance consisting of only one type of atom.
5. Recognize that both hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) are elements because they consist of only one type of atom, even though they are diatomic molecules.

Key Concepts

Chemical Compounds

Chemical compounds are substances formed when two or more elements chemically bond together in fixed proportions. In the given reaction, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a chemical compound because it consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms bonded together. Compounds have distinct properties that differ from the individual elements that compose them.

Elements

Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. They are the fundamental building blocks of matter, represented on the periodic table. In the reaction provided, hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) are both elements, as they consist of only one type of atom and cannot be decomposed into simpler substances.

Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions involve the transformation of reactants into products through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. In the reaction of hydrogen peroxide breaking down into water and oxygen, the process illustrates how compounds can decompose into their elemental forms. Understanding chemical reactions is essential for identifying the nature of substances involved, whether they are compounds or elements.