What measurement is necessary to determine the characteristics of an element?

To determine the characteristics of an element, measuring both mass and volume is fundamental. Mass provides information about the amount of matter within the element, while volume indicates how much space that matter occupies. Together, these two measurements allow for the calculation of density, which is a critical characteristic of materials. Understanding mass and volume provides insights into how an element behaves under various conditions and contributes to its identification and classification in a practical setting.

While density is essential for characterizing substances, it is derived from the mass and volume measurements; thus, it does not independently provide a complete picture of the element's characteristics without the foundational data from mass and volume.