How could you distinguish an element from a compound?
Answers
A compound contains atoms of different elements chemically combined together in a fixed ratio.
An element is a pure chemical substance made of same type of atom.
Distinguishing Feature-
Compounds contain different elements in a fixed ratio arranged in a defined manner through chemical bonds.
Elements are distinguished by their atomic number (number of protons in their nucleus).
Ability to Breakdown-
A compound can be separated into simpler substances by chemical methods/reactions.
Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.
Types-
The list of compounds is endless.
There are about 117 elements that have been observed. Can be classified as metal, non-metal or metalloid.
Representation-
A compound is represented using a formula.
An element is represented using symbols.
Examples-
compound- Water (H2O), Sodium chloride (NaCl), Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) etc.
element- Iron, copper, silver, gold, nickel etc.