Explain the difference between atom and element

an atom is the smallest part of an element that has the properties of that element

it can't be broken further into smaller substances

an element is the simplest chemical

it consists of one type of atoms

so you can consider atoms as the building block of an element

14 days is the half-life of phosphorus-32

every chemical equation adheres to the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. therefore, there must be the same number of atoms of each element on each side of a chemical equation.