element

Definition / meaning of element

A basic part of a whole. In chemistry, refers to a simple substance that cannot be broken down into smaller parts or changed into another substance. The basic part of an element is an atom, which contains protons, neutrons, and electrons. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons. Examples of elements are hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and calcium.

Listed under:

Find More About 'element'

Source(s):

The Web site of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/)

Leave a Comment

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.