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Elements and Compounds
What is the difference between an element and a compound?
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1 Reply
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Both elements and compounds are types of substances. But, there distinct differences are as follows:-
1) Composition
– Elements are pure substances made up of only one type of atom. Atoms of the same element have same number of protons. Examples- hydrogen, oxygen, carbon etc.
-A compound is composed of two or more different elements chemically combined together in a fixed ratio. Examples- Water(H2O), carbon dioxide(CO2) etc.
2) Chemical properties
-Elements have same chemical properties which are determined by the number and electrons in their atoms.
– As compounds are mixture of elements chemically bounded together, they exhibits different chemical properties from the elements they are formed.
3) Physical properties
-Elements have unique set of physical properties such as boiling point, melting point, color, density etc which vary depending on the arrangement and interactions of atoms
-Compounds possess physical properties that may be distinct from the properties of their constituent elements.
4) Separation
– Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.
-Compounds can be broken down into their constituent elements or simpler compounds by chemical reactions
These can be the differences between compounds and elements.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by
Darshika Raj.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by
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