Which term refers to the smallest unit of matter?

Which term refers to the smallest unit of matter?

• A. Molecule
• B. Density
• C. Atom
• D. Compound

Answer: (C)

Matter is made of tiny particles, and the smallest unit that still represents a single kind of matter is the atom. An atom is the basic unit of an element, meaning it defines what that element is. Atoms can combine with other atoms to form molecules, which are bonds of two or more atoms. So while molecules are common building blocks of substances, they are larger than a single atom. A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements join together, which is even larger in scale than a single atom. Density describes how tightly matter is packed in a given volume, not a unit of matter itself. Therefore, the term that refers to the smallest unit of matter is atom.

Matter is made of tiny particles, and the smallest unit that still represents a single kind of matter is the atom. An atom is the basic unit of an element, meaning it defines what that element is. Atoms can combine with other atoms to form molecules, which are bonds of two or more atoms. So while molecules are common building blocks of substances, they are larger than a single atom. A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements join together, which is even larger in scale than a single atom. Density describes how tightly matter is packed in a given volume, not a unit of matter itself. Therefore, the term that refers to the smallest unit of matter is atom.