Option 1 -> Correct - Atoms are extremely small, approximately 10⁻¹⁰ meters in diameter, which is beyond ordinary imagination.
Option 2 -> Correct - Most atoms (except noble gases) cannot exist independently under ordinary conditions; they form molecules or compounds to achieve stability.
Option 3 -> This statement contradicts statement 2. Most atoms are NOT capable of independent existence under ordinary conditions as they readily bond with other atoms to achieve stable electron configurations.
Option 4 -> Correct - All matter in the universe is composed of atoms, making this a fundamental truth.
Hence, Option 3 (Statement 3) -> Statement 3 is incorrect because it contradicts the well-established fact that most atoms (except noble gases like Helium, Neon, Argon) cannot exist independently under ordinary conditions. They require bonding with other atoms to form stable molecules or compounds. For example, oxygen exists as O₂, not as individual O atoms in nature -> correct