Elements and pure chemical compounds can be found in nature. An element is a substance made of the same type of atoms as a compound, whereas a compound is made of various elements mixed together in a specific ratio. In this article, we will study how an element differs from a compound through various properties.
Element
An element is a pure substance made up of only one kind of atom, each of whose nuclei contains the same amount of protons and it cannot be broken chemically. Nuclear processes can result in the formation of new elements even though chemical reactions cannot change the elements themselves. There are 118 elements in existence currently, 93 of which are naturally occurring, while the remaining were created in laboratories. The English scientist Robert Boyle was the one who first proposed the chemical element. He stated that an element is a substance that is "incapable of breakdown". An element's atoms all contain the same amount of protons, but its electron and neutron counts can vary. Ions are produced by altering the electron-to-proton ratio, whereas isotopes are produced by altering the neutron count.
1. Properties of an Element
Each element has a set of properties. Conductivity, magnetism, melting and boiling points, colour, state of matter, and other characteristics are among these. Different sections of the periodic table of elements contain groups of elements with similar properties.
There is only one type of atom in each type of element. As a result, no two elements can have the same kind of atom.
Either a single atom or molecules composed of the same atom make up an element.
It has its own fixed melting and boiling points.
An element cannot, under any physical or chemical conditions, be reduced to a simpler substance.
Chemical reactions between elements are possible.
2. Classification of Elements
Elements can be further categorized based on their properties as follows:
Metals
Non-metals
Noble gases
Metals | Non-metals | Metalloids | Noble gases |
Hard solids, Lustrous, Good conductors of heat and electricity, Ductility, Malleable, High melting and boiling points, Sonorous Examples: Gold, Iron, Silver, Platinum, Mercury, etc. | They occur in solids, liquids, and gases, Not lustrous, Bad conductors of heat and electricity, Neither ductile nor malleable, Brittle, Low melting and boiling points, Not sonorous Examples: Carbon, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Sulphur, etc. | They are elements that exhibit both metallic and nonmetallic characteristics. Examples: Arsenic, Germanium, Bismuth, etc | Unreactive or inert elements include helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. They have monoatomic molecules and can be found in free-form or in trace amounts in the atmosphere. They may also be known as rare gases. Â |
1. Compounds
A compound is a substance comprised of two or more different chemical elements combined together in a specific ratio. The combination of the elements forms chemical bonds that are difficult to break. These bonds are formed as a result of sharing of atoms or exchanging electrons. A compound appears and has properties different from its constituent elements. A compound can be identified by its name and chemical formula. Every element in the compound is named by its chemical symbol, along with its number of atoms if there are more than one. For example, the compound sulfuric acid has the chemical formula H2SO4, which indicates that it contains four oxygen atoms (O), one sulphur atom, and two hydrogen atoms.
1. Properties of Compounds
Atoms from two different elements are chemically combined to create a compound.
Every sample of a compound has the same physical and chemical characteristics.
Compounds include their constituent elements in a fixed ratio by mass.
The properties of compounds are different from those of their constituent elements.
A compound can only be broken down into its component parts by chemical methods.
When compounds are formed, neither energy is released nor absorbed.
A compound has characteristic melting and boiling points.
Water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other substances are some examples of compounds.
2. Classification of Compounds
Compounds are categorized on the basis of a bond that holds them together. There are primarily two categories of bonds:
Covalent bonds: When two nonmetal atoms share electron pairs to create a stable bond, bonding takes place. Carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and hydrogen chloride are a few examples of covalent compounds (HCl).
Ionic bond: A metal atom and a nonmetal atom exchange valence electrons to form a stable bond during bonding. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), and sodium chloride (NaCl) are a few examples of ionic compounds.
3. What is the Difference Between an Element and a Compound?
Element | Compound |
A pure chemical substance comprised of the same type of atom is called an element. | A compound is made up of atoms from various elements that have been chemically combined in a specific ratio. |
Only one kind of atom is found in elements. Every atom has the same atomic number or the same number of protons in its nucleus. | Compounds are made up of different elements arranged through chemical bonding in a fixed ratio. They contain only one type of molecule. Chemical reactions combine the constituent parts to form the compound. |
Chemical reactions cannot break down elements into simpler substances. | Chemical changes or reactions can break down a compound into simpler elements. |
Symbols are used to represent an element. | The chemical formula of a compound, which represents the symbols of its constituent elements and the number of atoms in each, is used to represent the compound. |
Approximately 118 elements have been identified. Elements can be categorized as metal, non-metal, or metalloid. | Chemical compounds can be produced in large, almost infinite quantities. Molecular compounds, ionic compounds, intermetallic compounds, and coordination complexes are the different types of compounds. |
Sodium, Carbon, Oxygen, and Helium. | Water, Ammonia, Carbon dioxide, and Sodium chloride  |
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Key Takeaways
An element is a substance made up of atoms that all have the same atomic number, meaning they have the same number of protons in their atomic nuclei.
Examples of elements include hydrogen, oxygen, and gold.
A compound is a substance made up of two or more different types of atoms bonded together. The properties of a compound are different from the properties of its constituent elements.
Examples of compounds include water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and table salt (NaCl).
FAQs
1. How are elements and compounds different chemically?
Elements are made up of only one type of atom, while compounds are made up of two or more different types of atoms bonded together. This means that the chemical properties of a compound are different from the properties of its constituent elements.
2. Can elements be chemically combined to make compounds?
Yes, elements can be chemically combined to form compounds through chemical reactions. For example, two atoms of hydrogen can be chemically combined with one atom of oxygen to form a molecule of water (H2O).
3. Can compounds be separated into their constituent elements?
Yes, compounds can be broken down into their constituent elements through chemical reactions known as decomposition reactions. For example, water (H2O) can be broken down into its constituent elements, hydrogen, and oxygen, through the process of electrolysis.
4. Are all compounds composed of only two elements?
No, compounds can be composed of more than two elements. For example, table salt (NaCl) is a compound composed of one sodium atom and one chlorine atom, while water is a compound composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
5. Is there any similarity between an element and a compound?
Yes, the similarity between an element and a compound is:
Both elements and compounds are types of matter and are made up of atoms.
Both elements and compounds can be found in different states of matter, such as solid, liquid, and gas.
Conclusion
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