 An element is a pure substance made from just one type of atom. There are 92 naturally occurring types of atoms, or elements. The smallest naturally occurring atom, and one of the lightest substances, is HYDROGEN. The biggest naturally occurring atom (and one of the heaviest substances) is URANIUM. Each of the elements has its own symbol; for example: hydrogen's is H, uranium is U, gold is Au, oxygen is O, copper is Cu ... 
Gold is made from just gold atoms. How can you tell if a pure substance is actually an element, if you can't see its atoms, even with a microscope? That's easy! All 92 of them, and a at least eleven more man-made ones, are listed in a chart called a 'Periodic Table'. This table also gives some information about each of the elements. See an on-line periodic table with information about each of the 92 naturally occurring elements, plus 11 more man-made ones. You can also print your own periodic table here. 'Elements are materials made from just one type of atom. There are over 92 naturally occurring elements, so there are over 92 kinds of atoms.' |