Question

Students are each given a 20 gram sample of an unknown solid compound in a clear plastic bag. They are instructed to break the material into smaller parts by gently hitting it with a hammer. Some of the parts break into large chunks and some look like a fine powder. Which statement correctly describes these broken pieces of the sample?

Answer 1

The statement that correctly describes the broken pieces of the sample would be that each piece contains the same proportion of different elements. They would have the same composition of the elements since compounds cannot be break into elements just by mechanical means.

Answer 2

Students are each given a 20 gram sample of an unknown solid compound in a clear plastic bag. They are instructed to break the material into smaller parts by gently hitting it with a hammer. Some of the parts break into large chunks and some look like a fine powder.

Which statement correctly describes these broken pieces of the sample?