PSI Barbering Practice Exam

As the basic unit of matter, what cannot be divided into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means?

1. Atoms

2. Elements

3. Compounds

4. Particles

The correct answer is: Atoms

The correct answer is atoms because they are the smallest units of matter that retain the properties of an element. Atoms are comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and they typically cannot be broken down into simpler substances through ordinary chemical reactions. Elements, which are made up of one type of atom, consist of multiple atoms that exhibit similar chemical properties. Compounds are substances formed from two or more elements that are chemically combined, and they can be broken down into their constituent elements by chemical means. Particles is a general term that can refer to atoms, molecules, ions, or subatomic particles, but it does not specifically refer to the simplest unit of matter. Thus, the concept of atoms as indivisible units at the level of ordinary chemical interactions solidly supports the answer provided.