Elemente

Elemente is the plural form of element in several languages, notably German and Dutch. The term denotes a fundamental part of a larger whole. Etymologically, it derives from Latin elementum, from Greek stoicheion, historically used for a basic principle of nature or a building block of knowledge.

In chemistry, chemical elements are substances consisting of one type of atom. They are listed on the periodic table by symbols and ordered by atomic number, the number of protons. There are 118 recognized elements. Elements form compounds, and properties such as metallic character and electron configuration influence reactivity. Isotopes vary in neutron number.

In mathematics, an element is a member of a set. For example, 2 is an element of the natural numbers. The term appears in definitions of relations, functions, and algebraic structures, and it denotes a single item within a defined context.

Historically, elements have served as explanations for the natural world. Classical Greek philosophy listed earth, water, air, and fire; East Asian and Indian traditions describe additional or alternative groupings. In modern science, these concepts are symbolic rather than literal descriptions of matter.

In contemporary usage, element describes a component within a system. In design and computing, UI elements or HTML elements are discrete parts of a larger interface. The term remains a general label for a constituent that contributes to a whole.