Elements are substances made from one kind of atom
Compounds are made from two or more elements chemically combined
Elements take part in chemical reactions in which new substances are made in processes that most often involve an energy change
In these reactions, atoms combine together in fixed ratios that will give them full outer shells of electrons, producing compounds
The properties of compounds can be quite different from the elements that form them
The properties of sodium chloride are quite different from sodium and chlorine
Mixtures
In a mixture, elements and compounds are interspersed with each other, but are not chemically combined
This means the components of a mixture retain the same characteristic properties as when they are in their pure form
So, for example, the gases nitrogen and oxygen when mixed in air, retain the same characteristic properties as they would have if they were separate
Substances will burn in air because the oxygen present in the air supports combustion
Mixtures at the molecular level
Homogeneous or heterogeneous
A homogeneous mixture has uniform composition and properties throughout
A heterogeneous mixture has non-uniform composition, so its properties are not the same throughout
It is often possible to see the separate components in a heterogeneous mixture, but not in a homogeneous mixture
Types of Mixtures
Separating Mixtures
The components retain their individual properties in a mixture and we can often separate them relatively easily. The technique we choose to achieve this will take advantage of a suitable difference in the physical properties of the components