element

Definition

An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. It consists of only one type of atom, characterized by a specific number of protons in its nucleus.

Analogy

Imagine a LEGO set where each unique LEGO block represents a different element. Just as you can use these blocks to build various structures but can't reduce the blocks themselves into anything simpler without breaking their essential characteristics, elements are the fundamental building blocks of matter that combine in various ways to form more complex substances but cannot themselves be divided into simpler substances through chemical reactions.

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