Chapter 17, Problem 17RQ

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

To determine

The difference between an element and a compound

Answer to Problem 17RQ

The material which consists of only one type of atoms is called an element and it is compound if it consists of different type of atoms in a fixed ratio.

Explanation of Solution

Atom is a spherical entity and is the basic constituent of matter. Some substances consist of only one type of atoms and those substances are called elements. For example a piece of pure silver consists of only silver atoms and silver is an element. But water with chemical formula ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$ consists of two types of atoms- hydrogen atom and oxygen atom, is a compound. So, compound is a stable substance or material which consists of different type of atoms.

Conclusion:

Therefore, when all the atoms in a material are same, the material is called an element. A compound consists of elements is fixed and definite proportion.