Question

What is the key difference between an element and a compound?

Short answer

An element is made of one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more elements chemically bonded.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Definitions

Begin by defining both 'element' and 'compound'. An element is a pure substance that consists of only one type of atom and cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together.

Example of an Element

An example of an element is oxygen (O). It consists of only oxygen atoms and cannot be broken down into anything simpler.

Example of a Compound

An example of a compound is water (H₂O). It consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom chemically bonded together and can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen.

Key Difference

The key difference is that an element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more different elements that are chemically bonded.

Key concepts

element

An element is a pure substance that consists of only one type of atom. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter, and each element has its unique type of atom. Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. For instance, the element oxygen (O) consists entirely of oxygen atoms.

Elements have distinct properties based on their atomic structure. Some elements are metals, like iron, while others are non-metals, like sulfur. Understanding elements is key to grasping more complex chemical concepts.

• Each element has a unique atomic number.
• Examples include hydrogen, carbon, and gold.

compound

A compound is a substance made when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together. These elements combine in fixed ratios to form a compound with unique properties different from the individual elements. Water (H₂O) is a prime example, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Compounds can be broken down into simpler substances using chemical reactions, unlike elements. Understanding compounds helps to study chemical reactions and new substance formation.

• Formed through chemical bonds between atoms.
• Compounds have distinct chemical and physical properties.

chemical bonding

Chemical bonding refers to the force that holds atoms together in compounds. There are several types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds. Each type involves different ways in which electrons are shared or transferred between atoms to achieve stability.

For example, in an ionic bond, one atom donates an electron to another atom, creating ions that attract each other. In a covalent bond, atoms share electrons to fulfill their electron shells. Chemical bonds are fundamental to creating compounds and determining their properties.

• Chemical bonds determine the structure and stability of a compound.
• Bond strength varies depending on the type of bond.

pure substance

A pure substance is a material that has a constant composition and consistent properties throughout the sample. Pure substances include elements and compounds. Unlike mixtures, pure substances cannot be separated into other materials by physical means.

Water is a pure substance because it consistently has the same ratio of hydrogen to oxygen. Pure substances are essential in chemistry for creating predictable and repeatable reactions.

• Pure substances have uniform properties.
• Examples include pure gold (element) and salt (compound).