Hydrogen is both an element and an atom. Let's break it down:
Element: In the context of the periodic table, hydrogen is an element. Elements are the fundamental substances that make up all matter. Each element is uniquely defined by the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table and is represented by the symbol H. It consists of only one proton in its nucleus.
Atom: An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element. Hydrogen atoms are the individual particles that make up the element hydrogen. A hydrogen atom consists of a single proton in its nucleus and typically one electron orbiting the nucleus.
So, hydrogen is an element on the periodic table, and hydrogen atoms are the building blocks of the element hydrogen.