An element contains only one type of atom. Each chemical element is defined by atoms that have the same number of protons in their nucleus, which is unique to that element. So, for any given element, there is just one type of atom, although that element can have different isotopes with varying numbers of neutrons.
Key Points:
- An element is made up of only one kind of atom (e.g., gold contains only gold atoms).
- The type of atom in an element is defined by its atomic number (the number of protons).
- Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons, known as isotopes, but they are still the same element.
In summary, an element contains exactly one type of atom, but this type can have isotopes with variations in neutron count. This answers the question of how many types of atoms are contained in an element: exactly one type.
