An element is a pure substance made of only one kind of atom, while a compound is a pure substance made of two or more different elements chemically joined in a fixed ratio.

Quick Scoop: Core Difference

  • Element : Only one type of atom, cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means (for example, hydrogen, oxygen, gold).
  • Compound : Two or more different elements chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion (for example, water H₂O, carbon dioxide CO₂, salt NaCl).

Think of elements as the basic “letters” of matter, and compounds as “words” made by joining different letters together in specific combinations.

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Property Element Compound
Basic idea Pure substance with only one kind of atom.Pure substance with two or more different elements chemically combined.
Can it be broken down? Cannot be broken into simpler substances by chemical methods.Can be broken into its elements by chemical reactions.
Kinds of particles One type of atom (all atoms have the same atomic number).One type of molecule, but that molecule contains different kinds of atoms.
Composition Just one element throughout.Elements present in a fixed ratio by mass (like 2:1 H:O in water).
Properties Properties belong to that single element (for example, oxygen is a gas, iron is a metal).Properties are usually very different from the elements that form it (water is a liquid even though hydrogen and oxygen are gases).
How they’re represented By symbols (H, O, Na, Fe, Au).By formulas (H₂O, CO₂, NaCl, NH₃).
Number of types About 118 known elements.No fixed limit; countless possible compounds.
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