Which of the following best describes sodium chloride (NaCl)?

• A. Compound
• B. Homogeneous mixture
• C. Heterogeneous mixture
• D. Element

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions of the terms: An element is a pure substance consisting of only one type of atom; a compound is a substance formed when two or more elements chemically combine in fixed proportions; a homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition throughout; a heterogeneous mixture has a non-uniform composition.
2. Identify the composition of sodium chloride (NaCl): It consists of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio of 1:1.
3. Recognize that since NaCl is made of two different elements chemically combined, it cannot be an element or a mixture.
4. Recall that mixtures (both homogeneous and heterogeneous) involve physical combinations of substances without chemical bonding, which is not the case for NaCl.
5. Conclude that sodium chloride (NaCl) is best described as a compound because it is a pure chemical substance formed by the chemical combination of sodium and chlorine atoms.