Foundation
Chemistry Foundation
Atoms and Molecules
Question

Which one of the following statements would be incorrect to use ?

An atom of a compound 

 A mole of an element     

An atom of an element 

A mole of a compound 

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Solution

The incorrect statement is "An atom of a compound". The fundamental concept is that an atom is the smallest unit of an element, not a compound. A compound is a substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more different elements. Therefore, the smallest unit of a compound is a molecule, not an atom.

For example, water is a compound. Its formula is H2O. We refer to a molecule of water, not an atom of water.

Final Answer: An atom of a compound