Malcolm Rivera
A chemical compound is a substance composed of many identical molecules or molecular entities containing atoms from more than one chemical element. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element is therefore not a compound. A compound can be transformed into a different substance by a chemical reaction, which may involve interactions with other substances. For example, water is composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, and its chemical formula is H2O. The atomic number is equal to the number of protons in an element. On the periodic table, the atomic number is usually given as the whole number above the symbol for the element. For instance, hydrogen (H) has an atomic number of one (1), meaning it has one proton and, as a neutral atom, one electron.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A chemical compound is a substance composed of many identical molecules containing atoms from more than one chemical element. |
| Composition | Compounds are made of two or more atoms of different elements. |
| Atomic Structure | Protons and neutrons occupy the nucleus of an atom, while electrons exist in shells outside the nucleus. |
| Chemical Bonds | Compounds are held together by chemical bonds, including covalent, ionic, metallic, and coordinate covalent bonds. |
| Chemical Formula | A chemical formula specifies the number and type of atoms in a compound using chemical symbols and subscripts. For example, water (H2O) has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. |
| Molecular Structure | Compounds can form molecules, especially when made from non-metal elements. Metal-nonmetal compounds typically do not form molecules and have a lattice structure. |
| Electrical Charge | Atoms within a compound may be electrically neutral, with an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero. |
| Chemical Properties | The number of electrons and protons in an atom determines its chemical properties, including reactivity and energy release or absorption during reactions. |
| CAS Number | Many chemical compounds have a unique CAS number assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service for identification. |
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What You'll Learn
Compounds are made of two or more different atoms
A compound is a pure substance made from two or more different types of atoms, which are chemically bonded together. These atoms are from different elements and are held together by chemical bonds. For example, water is a compound made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, with the chemical formula H2O. Similarly, carbon dioxide is a compound with the formula CO2, made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Compounds are formed when atoms of different elements bond together in a fixed ratio. This means that each compound can be represented by a chemical formula, which specifies the number of atoms of each element present in the compound. The chemical formula for water, for instance, indicates that it is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Molecules of compounds contain atoms of two or more different elements. These molecules can be homonuclear, meaning they consist of atoms of a single element, or heteronuclear, which are chemical compounds composed of multiple elements. A molecule of oxygen (O2) is homonuclear, whereas water (H2O) is heteronuclear.
Compounds can be further classified into four major types, based on how the atoms are bonded together: molecular compounds, ionic compounds, intermetallic compounds, and coordination complexes. Molecular compounds, such as water, are held together by covalent bonds, while ionic compounds like sodium chloride (NaCl) are formed by ionic bonds. Intermetallic compounds, as the name suggests, involve metallic bonds, and coordination complexes are held together by coordinate covalent bonds.
In summary, compounds are made of two or more different atoms, chemically bonded, forming molecules with distinct chemical formulas and structures. These compounds can be classified based on the type of bonding between their constituent atoms.
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Chemical formulas specify the number of atoms in a compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules or molecular entities. These molecules contain atoms from more than one chemical element, which are held together by chemical bonds. Compounds are made of two or more atoms of different elements, such as water (H2O) and methane (CH4).
Chemical formulas specify the number of atoms of each element in a compound molecule. They use standard chemical symbols with numerical subscripts. For example, the formula for water is H2O, which means it is composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. The formula for carbon dioxide is CO2, which means it has one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
The chemical formula of a compound is important because it represents the fixed ratio in which the atoms are chemically bonded together. This fixed ratio is a defining characteristic of compounds, distinguishing them from mixtures. It also determines the unique chemical structure of the compound, including how the atoms are spatially arranged.
Additionally, the chemical formula can provide insight into the chemical properties of a compound. The number of electrons and protons in an atom determines its chemical properties, including how it reacts and the energy released or used in these reactions. For example, the formula for sodium chloride is NaCl, indicating that it has the same number of metal sodium atoms as chlorine atoms. This chemical formula helps us understand the properties and behaviour of this compound.
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Compounds are held together by chemical bonds
Compounds are formed by atoms of more than one element, combined in a constant whole number ratio. These compounds are held together by chemical bonds, which can be either covalent or ionic. Covalent bonds are formed by sharing electrons, while ionic bonds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons with each other. For example, when two hydrogen atoms are bonded together in H2 gas, they share their valence electrons, forming a covalent bond. Similarly, when a nonmetal atom combines with another nonmetal atom, they typically form a covalent bond by sharing electrons. The strength of covalent bonds can vary from weak to moderate, and compounds with these types of bonds are usually gases, liquids, or soft solids with low melting points.
Ionic bonds, on the other hand, are formed when metal atoms lose electrons and become positively charged cations, and nonmetal atoms gain electrons to become negatively charged anions. The electrostatic attraction between these oppositely charged ions holds them together in an ionic compound. For instance, when sodium (Na) loses an electron, it becomes a Na+ cation, and when fluorine (F) gains an electron, it becomes an F- anion. These ions are then attracted to each other and form an ionic bond, resulting in the compound sodium fluoride (NaF). Ionic compounds typically have strong ionic bonds arranged in a 3D array of crystal lattices, making them hard solids with high melting points.
The type of bond formed between atoms in a compound is crucial in determining its behavior and properties. For example, the stability of chlorofluorocarbons is due to the high strength of the C-Cl and C-F bonds. This stability can have negative environmental consequences, as in the case of dichlorodifluoromethane (Cl2CF2), which persists in the atmosphere and causes the release of chlorine atoms that destroy stratospheric ozone.
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Pure chemical elements are not compounds
A compound is a substance composed of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together. Compounds can be broken down into simpler compounds or their constituent elements through chemical means. For example, water (H2O) is a compound made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Pure chemical elements, on the other hand, are not compounds. An element is a pure substance that contains only one type of atom. For instance, a lump of copper contains only copper atoms. Hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) are also examples of pure elements. Each of these elements has a unique atomic number, which is equal to the number of protons in the atom. For example, hydrogen has one proton, while oxygen has eight.
The distinction between compounds and elements is important because they have different properties and behaviours. For example, water (H2O) is a liquid at room temperature, while its constituent elements, hydrogen and oxygen, are gases. Additionally, compounds can be broken down into simpler substances, whereas elements cannot be broken down further by chemical means.
While compounds are formed through the chemical bonding of different types of atoms, elements are composed of only one type of atom. This fundamental difference distinguishes compounds from pure chemical elements. The number of atoms and their arrangement within a molecule determine the properties of a compound, whereas the unique characteristics of an element are determined by the structure of its individual atoms.
In summary, pure chemical elements are not compounds because they consist of only one type of atom, whereas compounds are formed from the chemical bonding of two or more different types of atoms. This distinction leads to differences in their properties and behaviour, with compounds exhibiting characteristics distinct from their constituent elements.
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Compounds can be transformed into different substances
A compound is a substance composed of two or more different types of atoms. For example, water (H2O) is a compound made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Compounds can undergo chemical reactions, which transform them into different substances. This occurs when the constituent atoms of the reactants are rearranged to create different substances as products. For example, when water (H2O) encounters sodium metal (Na), the atoms are redistributed to form molecular hydrogen (H2) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This is a chemical change, as the organisation of the atoms has altered, and new substances with different properties have been formed.
Another example of a chemical reaction is the burning of wood. When wood is heated in the presence of oxygen, it transforms into carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ash.
Chemical reactions can also occur between compounds and elements. For instance, when an acid reacts with baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate), a gas-forming reaction takes place, causing cake batter to rise.
The various chemical elements that make up compounds can be compared to the letters of the alphabet. Just as letters combine to form different words, atoms of elements can combine in various ways to form different compounds. There are millions of known chemical compounds, and many more that have yet to be discovered or synthesized.
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Frequently asked questions
A compound is a pure substance made from more than one type of atom. These atoms are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio. A chemical formula can be used to express the number of atoms of each element in a compound molecule. For example, water is H2O, meaning it is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
An element is a pure substance made from only one type of atom. A compound, on the other hand, is made from two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together.
Compounds can be formed when a chemical reaction causes atoms to bond together. There are four major types of compounds, distinguished by how the atoms are bonded: molecular compounds (covalent bonds), ionic compounds (ionic bonds), intermetallic compounds (metallic bonds), and coordination complexes (coordinate covalent bonds).
