What are the basic substances of which all things are made?

What are the basic substances of which all things are made?

• A. Molecules
• B. Atoms
• C. Elements
• D. Compounds

Answer: (C)

The basic substances of which all things are made are atoms. Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter and the smallest units of an element that retain the properties of that element. Every physical substance in the universe, whether it is solid, liquid, or gas, is composed of atoms.

While elements are pure substances made up of only one type of atom, atoms themselves are the more fundamental units. Molecules are formed when two or more atoms bond together, and compounds consist of molecules made from different types of atoms. Therefore, while options such as elements, molecules, and compounds are related, they all consist of atoms—making atoms the foundational units needed to understand the structure and composition of matter.