An iron nail is made up of particles. Which statement is true about these particles?

• A. They are atoms of the element Fe, each with 26 protons.
• B. They are atoms of the element Cu.
• C. They are molecules composed of iron and oxygen.
• D. They are ions with a negative charge.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that an iron nail is a solid piece of the element iron, which means it is composed of iron atoms.
2. Recall that an atom of an element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus; for iron (Fe), this number is 26.
3. Recognize that the particles in a pure iron nail are not molecules composed of iron and oxygen, as that would describe a compound like iron oxide, not pure iron metal.
4. Note that the particles are not copper (Cu) atoms, since copper is a different element with 29 protons, and the nail is specified as iron.
5. Understand that the particles are neutral atoms, not ions with a negative charge, because the nail is a bulk metal composed of neutral iron atoms.