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Difference Between Element and Compound

Pure substances are of two kinds - elements and compounds - depending on whether they are made of one type of atom or several combined chemically.

In short

An element is a pure substance made of only one kind of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler substances chemically; a compound is a pure substance made of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio.

Element vs Compound - Comparison Table

BasisElementCompound
CompositionOne type of atomTwo or more elements combined
Broken down chemically?NoYes (into its elements)
Ratio of componentsNot applicableFixed by mass
PropertiesOwn characteristic propertiesDifferent from its elements
Represented bySymbol (e.g. O, Fe)Formula (e.g. H₂O, CO₂)
ExamplesHydrogen, oxygen, goldWater, carbon dioxide, common salt

Want to understand this fully? Read the Chemistry notes on this chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions - Element vs Compound

Is water an element or a compound?
Water is a compound. It is made of the elements hydrogen and oxygen chemically combined in a fixed 2:1 ratio, and it can be split into these elements by electrolysis.
How is a compound different from a mixture?
In a compound elements are chemically combined in a fixed ratio and can only be separated chemically; in a mixture substances are just physically mixed in any ratio and can be separated by physical methods.

More Chemistry Comparisons

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