Chemistry: Mixing elements in the periodic table

Can you mix 2 elements in the periodic table of the elements and get a new element? (age 10)

This is a great question! The short answer is no, you can’t mix two elements from the periodic table and get a whole new element. The long answer is that you can frequently mix two elements and get a chemical compound that has totally different properties than the elements you put together. For example, Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) are both colorless gases on their own, but when combined in a chemical reaction, they create water (H2O). There are around 118 elements on the periodic table and scientists are still finding more. Everything in the world is made up of combinations of those elements.

Thanks for your question!

Your friend,
Professor Science