Matter can be classified as element, compound, or mixture. An element is the purest form of matter and is composed of identical atoms. A compound is composed of two or more elements, mixed together in a certain fixed ratio. An example of a compound is water (chemical formula: H2O), which is made by combining the elements hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) in a 2:1 ratio. A mixture, on the other hand, is composed of two or more elements or compounds. Trail mix is a good example of a mixture.
The constituents of a compound can be separated by chemical means, while those of a mixture can be physically separated.
A compound's properties are different from those of its constituents. Hydrogen is a fuel and oxygen aids combustion, however their compound- water, is used for fire extinguishing. The constituents of a mixture retain their properties.
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