Final answer:
Compounds have physical properties that differ greatly from the properties of all of their elements. This is because the combination of elements forms a new substance with unique physical and chemical characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physical properties of compounds differ greatly from the properties of the elements that make them up. This is due to the fact that a compound is a substance formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded together, and the resulting combination often behaves as a completely new substance, with unique physical and chemical characteristics. For example, water (H2O) is comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, but the properties of water are markedly different from those of both hydrogen and oxygen gases.