Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam. Dive into questions with detailed explanations and hints to enhance your understanding. Prepare strategically for a successful exam experience!

Start Multiple Choice Practice Test
Start Flash Cards

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is a compound?

  1. A mixture of different substances

  2. A pure substance composed of two or more elements in fixed proportions

  3. An element that cannot be broken down

  4. A substance without a definite composition

The correct answer is: A pure substance composed of two or more elements in fixed proportions

A compound is defined as a pure substance that consists of two or more elements chemically combined in fixed proportions. This means that the elements that make up a compound are bonded together in a specific ratio that does not change, resulting in distinct physical and chemical properties that are different from the individual elements. For example, water (Hâ‚‚O) is a compound made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and it has unique properties that differ from those of hydrogen and oxygen gas. In contrast, mixtures and other forms of matter lack this strict compositional uniformity. A mixture is simply a combination of substances that retain their individual properties, while a pure element consists of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances. Additionally, substances without a definite composition, such as homogeneous or heterogeneous mixtures, either do not have fixed proportions or contain various elements and compounds that are not chemically bonded. This classification is essential in understanding the behavior and reactions of different substances in chemistry.

More Questions Like This