Final answer:
A compound is a substance made up of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio with unique properties, unlike the elements it comprises.
Step-by-step explanation:
A compound is a substance that consists of two or more different elements that are chemically combined in a fixed proportion. Examples of compounds include water (H₂O), sodium chloride (NaCl), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). The smallest particle of a compound is known as a molecule, and it exhibits properties different from the elements that compose it, due to the formation of chemical bonds between the atoms of the elements.
- Composition: An element is composed of one type of atom, while a compound is composed of two or more types of atoms.
- Properties: Compounds have different physical and chemical properties compared to the elements that form them.