The main difference between an element and a compound is that:
- An element is a pure substance made up of only one type of atom. It cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements are represented by chemical symbols and have unique properties defined by their atomic number (number of protons). Examples include oxygen (O), carbon (C), and iron (Fe)
- A compound is a pure substance composed of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio. Compounds have different properties from the elements that form them and can only be separated into those elements by chemical reactions. They are represented by chemical formulas, such as water (H₂O), sodium chloride (NaCl), and methane (CH₄)
In summary, elements consist of a single kind of atom, while compounds consist of atoms of different elements chemically combined.
