Why isn't wood an element?

Answer 1

Wood isn't an element because it contains different types of atoms. It is a substance made of all sorts of various elements, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. These elements form compounds, which are then built up to make materials such as wood.

Answer 2

Wood is not an element because it is a complex organic material composed of various compounds such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Elements are the basic building blocks of matter that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means, whereas wood is a mixture of different elements combined in a specific structure.