Answer key

1. (a) B Mg O

H Ca C

(b) Chlorine

Potassium

Carbon

Sodium

Silicon

(c) There are more than 100 different elements in the world, including those that have

been made in laboratories. That is why chemists use a shorthand way of referring to so

many elements. They have given each element a symbol.

(d) Sometimes the first letter of the English name of an element is the same as the first

letter of another element’s English name. Hence, to avoid being identical, some symbols

have two letters instead of one. For example, Si, Cl etc.

2. An element is a substance that is made of just one kind of atom. Whereas a compound is a

substance where different sorts of atoms are joined tightly together.

3. (a) A and C

(b) B and D.

Because there are different kinds of atoms joined tightly together in those substances.

4. Magnesium (Mg) and Chlorine (Cl)

Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O)

Calcium (Ca) and Oxygen (O)

 Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O)

Copper (Cu) and Oxygen (O)

5. Magnesium (Mg), Nitrogen (N) and Oxygen (O)

Potassium (K), Sulfur (S) and Oxygen (O)

Calcium (Ca), Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O)

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