Element Non Examples 2

This entry was posted on by (updated on )
Element and Non Element Examples
All atoms of an element contain the same number of protons. Matter containing different types of atoms or no atoms at all is not an element.

Are confused by what is and is not an element? It’s easy to find element examples. This is a list of element non examples.

What Is an Element?

To know what an element is not, it’s helpful to know what one is. The list of elements is rather short (only 118). Anything not on the periodic table is an element non example!

Elements are the smallest particles of matter that have distinct properties and cannot be further divided using any chemical means. A material made up of an element consists of only one type of atom. Atoms, in turn, are characterized by the number of protons they possess. So, for a substance to be an element, all of its atoms must have the same number of protons. Examples of elements include hydrogen, lithium, nickel, and radium.

Element Examples

In addition to single atoms, there are elements made of identical atoms bonded to each other. Examples of elements include:

  • helium (He)
  • ozone (O3)
  • chlorine (Cl2)
  • hydrogen (H2)
  • oxygen (O2)
  • diamond (pure carbon)
  • diamond set in graphite (still pure carbon)
  • iron skillet (Fe)

Isotopes of atoms are also element examples. So, tritium and deuterium (isotopes of hydrogen) are also examples of elements. Uranium-235 and uranium-238 are two isotopes of uranium, so they are elements. Atoms of different isotopes of an element contain the same number of protons as each other, but have different numbers of neutrons.

What Is Not an Element?

Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It is a good element non example. (Luke Peterson)
Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It is a good element non example. (Luke Peterson)

If you don’t see it listed on the periodic table, it’s not an element! Element non examples include all compounds, which are substances made when two different types of atoms form a chemical bond. Any material made by mixing elements is no longer an element. Anytime you see a chemical formula with more than one element symbol in it, it’s an element non example.

Element Non Examples

Specific examples of non examples include:

  • water (H2O)
  • carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • a computer
  • paper
  • plastic
  • steel
  • brass
  • glass
  • coffee
  • light
  • heat
  • a person
  • a tree
  • a window
  • a cat

2 thoughts on “Element Non Examples”

  • Anne Helmenstine Post author

    I think I covered this in the article. Oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, ozone, iron, copper, sulfur, silicon, helium… all are elements. They all exist in their pure form. Atoms of iron, for example, that form metallic bonds with other iron atoms are still elemental iron. Oxygen gas and ozone are both elements.

Comments are closed.