Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Elements, Mixtures & Compounds
(Microscopic view of the molecules of the element nitrogen.)
(Microscopic view of the atoms of the element argon.)
An element: - consists of only one kind of atom,
- cannot be broken down into a simpler type of matter by either physical or chemical means, and
- can exist as either atoms (e.g. argon) or molecules (e.g., nitrogen).
A molecule consists of two or more atoms of the same element, or different elements, that are chemically bound together.
Microscopic view of the molecules of the compound water.Oxygen atoms ~ redHydrogen atoms ~ white.
A compound: - consists of atoms of two or more different elements bound together,
- can be broken down into a simpler type of matter (elements) by chemical means (but not by physical means),
- has properties that are different from its component elements, and
- always contains the same ratio of its component atoms.
Microscopic view of a gaseous mixture containing
- two elements (argon and nitrogen)
- a compound (water)A mixture: - consists of two or more different elements and/or compounds physically intermingled,
- can be separated into its components by physical means, and
- often retains many of the properties of its components.
Hope you learnt something here!Source of information:http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/atoms/elements.html
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