Chemistry: Chapter 2.3 Elements and Compounds

Distinguishing elements & compounds

1. A compound is a substance that contains 2 or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion. For example: water is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. 2. Compounds can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means, but elements cannot!

Define chemical change

A change that produces matter with a different composition than the original matter.

Define compound

A compound is a substance that contains 2 or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion.

Can you differentiate between elements and compounds (pure substances) and mixtures that can be described as heterogeneous or homogeneous?

An element is the simplest form of matter that has a unique set of properties whereas a compound is a substance that contains 2 or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion.

Distinguishing elements and compounds:

An element is the simplest form of matter that has a unique set of properties. For example: they are made up of their own atoms! Another example: the element of gold is made up of only gold atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of elements.

Define atoms

Atoms are the building blocks of elements.

Define element

The simplest form of matter that has a unique set of properties.