Explain why there are more substances on Earth than are listed on the periodic table of elements.

Question

wolfe8 · Answer

I guess because we haven't discovered them yet? They exist in compounds that we cannot isolate them yet? I'm not sure. Try Google

abb0t · Answer

Because what's on the periodic table are the basic building blocks for other more complex compounds. They are able to form bonds with other elements, therefore forming a wide array of species. They can be broken down into two types of compounds: organic or inorganic.

Organic species would be something as simple as methane: $\sf \color{red}{CH_4}$ or toluent: $\sf \color{red}{CH_3C_6H_5}$
Inorganic species could be something as simple as carbon monoxide: $\sf \color{blue}{CO}$ or molybdenum tetrachloride $\sf \color{blue}{MoCl_5}$

anonymous · Answer

Elements are pure substances with only one type of atom. When two or more elements are combined, compounds are formed. This allows more substances to be created on Earth.

anonymous · Answer

I think that there are more substances because the world can have more substances than elements.