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What are the differences between atoms, elements, and compounds?

A substance can be classified as either an element, a compound or as a mixture. An element is the purest form of matter and is composed of identical atoms (assuming no isotopes are there). Atoms are the smallest unit of matter that still retain their properties. A compound is made up of 2 or more elements in a certain fixed ratio. Thus, atoms form elements, and elements form compounds.


An atom retains the properties of a substance. An element retains the properties of its constituents, that is, atoms. A compound however, has properties that differ from its constituents. For example, water (chemical formula: H2O) is a compound and is made up of two elements- hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) in a fixed 2:1 ratio. Note that hydrogen contains atoms of hydrogen and oxygen contains atoms of oxygen. Now, hydrogen is combustible and oxygen aids combustion, however, their combination- water, is used for fire extinguishing.


Hope this helps. 

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