Elements & Compounds
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 1.1.1
Elements and Atoms
There are 118 different types of elements that humans have discovered and each one has its own chemical symbol. Atoms are the smallest possible unit of an element. Examples of elements include:
Oxygen
- The chemical symbol for oxygen is O.
Iron
- The chemical symbol for iron is Fe.
Cobalt
- The chemical symbol for cobalt is Co.
Test yourself on Elements & Compounds
What would most likely happen to a balloon filled with helium at a party?
How many elements have been discovered?
Which chemical symbol represents the element helium?
Each element is made up of only one type of atom, and scientists have discovered 118 different elements so far. Based on this, how many different types of atoms are currently known to exist?
A British man once flew 15 miles while attached to 100 helium-filled balloons. Which property of helium balloons explains why this was possible?