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"In chemistry, an element is a pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their atomic nuclei"[citation needed]
The very first sentence says "an element is a pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in their nuclei". This is one aspect of the IUPAC definition, but only part of the definition. From https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/C01022 -
"1. A species of atoms; all atoms with the same number of protons in the atomic nucleus.
2. A pure chemical substance composed of atoms with the same number of protons in the atomic nucleus. Sometimes this concept is called the elementary substance as distinct from the chemical element as defined under 1, but mostly the term chemical element is used for both concepts."
Treating an element as only the "pure substance" is incompatible with the statement later in the introductory paragraph "All of the baryonic matter of the universe is composed of chemical elements." - Most baryonic matter is NOT in "pure substance" form, but in compounds and/or ionized states. Later in the paragraph states "... elements occur in the Earth as compounds or mixtures" - but how could an "element occur" if it is only defined as a pure substance? There's a clear confusion caused by two different meanings for the same word. The same problem manifests throughout the article (for example the awkward statement on allotropes "Atoms of chemically pure elements may bond to each other chemically in more than one way", vs the rather clear "Isotopes are atoms of the same element ..., but having different numbers of neutrons"). I think both definitions need to be stated up front, as the concept of "element" encompasses both definitions and atoms of a particular kind in all their forms (compound, ionized, etc.). ArthurPSmith (talk) 16:13, 15 June 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Yes, I think so. The second definition could be maybe mentioned as an addition to that old lede paragraph, saying "The term is also often used to refer to a pure chemical substance whose atoms all have the same proton number." Double sharp (talk) 16:46, 15 June 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I don't think it was "better" in all respects, but it did have a better first sentence. I don't mean to impose a Wikidata-based view of the matter here either, even though that is where this problem was pointed out to me - the question is what is a true and consistent thing to say about it. And no, this article doesn't need to wait for any outcome of a Wikidata discussion. It's clear this article as it stands adopts both meanings inconsistently. The "species of atom" definition is more encompassing, but it does not quite capture the substance side of it. Perhaps an opening definition along the lines of "There are two closely related meanings to the term chemical element, as a species of atoms, or a pure substance composed only of atoms of the same species". ? ArthurPSmith (talk) 18:12, 15 June 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I've adjusted the opening sentence and doubled the goldbook reference to be clear where the claim is coming from. There may be some other cleanup that would be appropriate here also - I'm not sure where the "chemically pure element" stuff is coming from for example - an element is by definition pure, so this is redundant verbiage. ArthurPSmith (talk) 20:21, 15 June 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Fair enough. It's just I expect the two descriptions (WD and enwiki) to have congruence, and the WD discussion at least for me is pointing out the issue. I want to understand the WD element datamodel more widely too, for future usage. This article here has improved already. -DePiep (talk) 21:54, 15 June 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
A chemical element is a species of atoms that have a given number of protons in their nuclei, including the pure substance consisting only of that species.[1] Unlike chemical compounds,[edit]
A chemical element is a species of atoms that have a given number of protons in their nuclei, including the pure substance consisting only of that species.[1] Unlike chemical compounds, 2405:201:5C20:F805:4973:3AE4:11BD:4555 (talk) 10:56, 20 December 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Referencing and citation: not checked
