Tom Davison, age 10, Of Peoria, I11., for his question:

What is water classified as?

Scientists classify the different solids, liquids and gases as chemicals and there are many thousands of different chemicals in our world. Some are chemical elements made from atoms that are all alike. Some are chemical compounds made from molecules of assorted atoms and some are mixtures of compounds or compounds and elements.

Chemical compounds may be put together by living plants or animals. Cellulose made by plants is called an organic chemical. Substances that occur in nature with no help from living things are called non organic chemicals or minerals. Water is classified as a mineral. It is a chemical compound and it is called a mineral whether its molecules take a solid, a liquid or a gaseous state.