Question

these are drops of mercury. mercury, a shiny silver metal, is composed of mercury atoms. drops of liquid mercury bead up on a flat surface. although these drops can be broken into smaller droplets, they cannot be physically separated into more than one substance nor chemically decomposed into simpler substances. describe and classify mercury. mercury is composed of only one type of atom and cannot be chemically decomposed, so it is an element. mercury is composed of atoms of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio and can be chemically decomposed, so it is a compound. mercury is composed of two or more substances that can be physically separated and are evenly distributed, so it is a homogeneous mixture. mercury is composed of two or more substances that can be physically separated but are not evenly distributed, so it is a heterogeneous mixture.

Explanation:

Elements are substances made of only one type of atom and cannot be chemically decomposed. Mercury fits this as it's composed of mercury atoms and can't be chemically broken down. Compounds have two or more elements in a fixed ratio (not mercury). Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures have multiple substances (not mercury).

Answer:

Mercury is composed of only one type of atom and cannot be chemically decomposed, so it is an element.