What is the difference between an atom, compound and element?

Answer 1

An atom is something that makes up an object and is unique,uncuttable and invisible, a compound is more that one element fused together and an element is something that can't be broken down into which makes up everything.

Answer 2

In chemistry and physics, an atom (Greek ἄτομος or átomos meaning "indivisible") is the smallest particle still characterizing a chemical element.[2] (átomos is usually translated as "indivisible" or "uncuttable." Until the advent of quantum mechanics, dividing a material object was invariably equated with cutting it.) Whereas the word atom originally denoted a particle that cannot be cut into smaller particles, the atoms of modern parlance are composed of subatomic particles:

* electrons, which have a negative charge, a size which is so small as to be currently unmeasurable, and which are the least heavy (i.e., massive) of the three;
* protons, which have a positive charge, and are about 1836 times more massive than electrons; and
* neutrons, which have no charge, and are the same size as protons.

Chemical element is the type of an atom common examples of elements are hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon.

A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. The ratio of each element is usually expressed by chemical formula. For example, water (H2O) is a compound consisting of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.

Answer 3

Elements are substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances. Salt is made up of the elements sodium and chloride. Water is made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen.

The smallest particles of matter are called atoms. An atom is the smallest particle of an element that has the properties of that element. E.g. If you continually cut up a piece of aluminum, you will reach a point that you could no longer divide it. These are atoms: aluminum atoms.

A compound is a substance formed when two or more elements are chemically joined. Water, salt, and sugar are examples of compounds.

Answer 4

An atom is the smallest particle of matter.it's invisible and is the smallest particle that can take part in a chemical reaction.

An element consists of the same type of atoms throughout.all the atoms of an element r alike.the smallest particle of an element can be either a molecule or an atom.

A compound is formed when the atoms of 2 or more elements react with each other.the smallest particle of a compound is a molecule,which is formed through the combination of different atoms.

Answer 5

An Atom is the smallest single particle of an element. It is made up of varying amounts of neutrons, electrons and protons.
An Element is a single type of chemical (e.g. oxygen, helium), and a compound is a mixture of elements.(E.g. H2O - water)

Answer 6

In chemistry and physics, an atom (Greek ἄτομος or átomos meaning "indivisible") is the smallest particle still characterizing a chemical element.[2] (átomos is usually translated as "indivisible" or "uncuttable." Until the advent of quantum mechanics, dividing a material object was invariably equated with cutting it.) Whereas the word atom originally denoted a particle that cannot be cut into smaller particles, the atoms of modern parlance are composed of subatomic particles:

electrons, which have a negative charge, a size which is so small as to be currently unmeasurable, and which are the least heavy (i.e., massive) of the three;
protons, which have a positive charge, and are about 1836 times more massive than electrons; and
neutrons, which have no charge, and are the same size as protons.
Protons and neutrons make up a dense, massive atomic nucleus, and are collectively called nucleons. The electrons form the much larger electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.

Atoms can differ in the number of each of the subatomic particles they contain. Atoms of the same element have the same number of protons (called the atomic number). Within a single element, the number of neutrons may vary, determining the isotope of that element. The number of electrons associated with an atom is most easily changed, due to the lower energy of binding of electrons. The number of protons (and neutrons) in the atomic nucleus may also change, via nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, bombardment by high energy subatomic particles or photons, or certain (but not all) types of radioactive decay. In such processes which change the number of protons in a nucleus, the atom becomes an atom of a different chemical element.

Atoms are electrically neutral if they have an equal number of protons and electrons. Atoms which have either a deficit or a surplus of electrons are called ions. Electrons that are furthest from the nucleus may be transferred to other nearby atoms or shared between atoms. By this mechanism atoms are able to bond into molecules and other types of chemical compounds like ionic and covalent network crystals.

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of chemistry, and are conserved in chemical reactions.

A chemical element, or element for short, is a type of atom that is defined by its atomic number; that is, by the number of protons in its nucleus. The term is also used to refer to a pure chemical substance composed of atoms with the same number of protons.[1]

Common examples of elements are hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon. In total, 117 elements have been observed as of 2007, of which 94, i.e. plutonium and below, occur naturally on Earth. Elements with atomic numbers greater than 82 (i.e,. bismuth and those above), are inherently unstable and undergo radioactive decay. In addition, elements 43 and 61 (technetium and promethium) have no stable isotopes, and also decay. However, the unstable elements up to atomic number 94 with no stable nuclei are found in nature as a result of the natural decay processes of uranium and thorium.[2]

All chemical matter consists of these elements. New elements are discovered from time to time through artificial nuclear reactions.
A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. The ratio of each element is usually expressed by chemical formula. For example, water (H2O) is a compound consisting of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom.

The atoms within a compound can be held together by a variety of interactions, ranging from covalent bonds to electrostatic forces in ionic bonds. A continuum of bond polarities exist between the purely covalent bond (as in H2) and ionic bonds. For example H2O is held together by polar covalent bonds. Sodium chloride is an example of an ionic compound.

Answer 7

ATOM -- smallest indivisible basic particle of every "thing". e.g. atom of oxy.,cl,hydro....
ELEMENT-- consists of 2 or more "molecules" of same type e.g. <2 atoms of oxy.>=1molecule of oxy; many molecules together make an"element".
COMPOUND-- made up of 2 or more DIFFERENTmolecules or atoms.