How do compounds differ from their component elements?

Question

Wyatt Atkins · Accepted Answer

The physical and chemical properties of a compound differ from its component elements. For example, the element sodium (Na) is a soft, silvery gray active metal that reacts explosively with water to form sodium hydroxide (#NaOH#) and hydrogen gas (#H_2#). The element chlorine, which exits as a diatomic gaseous molecule (#Cl_2#), has a green color and is toxic. These two elements react to form sodium chloride (#NaCl#), also called common table salt, which is a white crystalline solid that is not toxic and dissolves in water, but does not react with it.

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Jose Ayala · Answer

undefined Chemical properties of compounds are different from those of their component elements because compounds are created when atoms of different elements form chemical bonds, creating new substances with unique properties from the original elements. Moreover, compounds have fixed ratios of constituent elements, while elements exist in their pure form with unique chemical properties.