If you know the name of a substance how can you find out whether or not it is an element

If you already know or have the name of the substance, the simpliest and easiest way to find out whether it is an element or not is to refer to the periodic table and see if the name you have is indicated on the periodic table. If it does, then in that case the substance is an element.

catya your not at all which answer i've seen you do this on another question!

it's c (engineer's do their work with mechanical stuff not on any living being)