Compounds

Definition

Compounds are substances composed of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together. They have unique properties distinct from the individual elements that form them.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Compounds can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
2. The smallest unit of a compound is called a molecule.
3. Compounds have fixed proportions of their constituent elements as described by specific chemical formulas.
4. Ionic and covalent bonds are the two main types of chemical bonds that form compounds.
5. The properties of a compound differ significantly from the properties of its constituent elements.

Review Questions

• What distinguishes a compound from a mixture?
• How do ionic and covalent bonds contribute to the formation of compounds?
• Why do compounds have fixed ratios of elements, and how is this represented?

Related terms

Element:

A pure substance consisting entirely of one type of atom, which cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Molecule:

The smallest unit of a compound that retains all the properties of that compound, consisting of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

Chemical Bond: An attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical substances containing two or more atoms; includes ionic and covalent bonds.