Robert Boyle was the first to define an element as a substance that is unable to be broken down into smaller substance by chemical reaction.
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Yes, an element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Each element is composed of only one type of atom.
Any well-informed chemist before the discovery of radioactivity would have said this.
In chemical terms ; NO!!!
In physical terms ; Yes.
Atoms of an element can be broken down into protons, neutrons and electrons.
Atoms are the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties, and they cannot be broken down further without changing the element itself.
If an element were broken down into its smallest particles, you would get atoms of that element. Each atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element.
Compounds can be broken down into simpler substances such as elements, ions, or smaller molecules through chemical reactions. For example, water (H2O) can be broken down into hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) through electrolysis.
Smaller particles have a greater surface area-to-volume ratio, leading to stronger forces of attraction between them. The shape of particles can also influence the way they interact, affecting the strength and direction of the attractions between them. Overall, smaller and more compact particles tend to have stronger attractions compared to larger or irregularly shaped particles.
Stirred or agitated, broken into smaller particles, or dissolved in a warmer solvent.