What is the basic unit of matter?

What is the basic unit of matter?

• A. Atom
• B. Molecule
• C. Cell
• D. Nucleus

Answer: (A)

Matter is made of tiny building blocks called atoms. An atom is the smallest unit that retains the properties of an element, so it’s the fundamental piece that everything is built from. Atoms can join with other atoms to form molecules, which are two or more atoms bonded together and are the main way substances are built. But molecules are not the basic unit of matter themselves; they’re made up of atoms. A cell, on the other hand, is the basic unit of life, not matter in general, and it’s made of many molecules organized to carry out life processes. The nucleus is the center part of an atom that contains protons and neutrons; while crucial, it’s part of the atom, not the smallest piece of matter on its own. So the basic unit of matter is the atom.

Matter is made of tiny building blocks called atoms. An atom is the smallest unit that retains the properties of an element, so it’s the fundamental piece that everything is built from. Atoms can join with other atoms to form molecules, which are two or more atoms bonded together and are the main way substances are built. But molecules are not the basic unit of matter themselves; they’re made up of atoms. A cell, on the other hand, is the basic unit of life, not matter in general, and it’s made of many molecules organized to carry out life processes. The nucleus is the center part of an atom that contains protons and neutrons; while crucial, it’s part of the atom, not the smallest piece of matter on its own. So the basic unit of matter is the atom.