Question

Q2. Mercuric oxide is a red powder (HgO). When heated in a dry test tube, it gives out liquid mercury and colourless oxygen gas as: Mercuric oxide----------> Mercury + Oxygen What conclusion will you draw regarding these three substances: mercuric oxide, mercury and oxygen?

Answer 1

(a) Mercuric oxide: It is a compound because it splits up into simpler substances, mercury and oxygen.
(b) Mercury: It is an element because it cannot be further decomposed into simpler substances.
(c) Oxygen: It is an element because it cannot be further decomposed into simpler substances.

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