Final answer:
A constant is a value that does not change, such as the speed of light or Planck's constant, and is different from a variable which can change in different situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A constant is data or a value that does not change. In the context of equations and scientific measurements, constants like the speed of light (c = 2.99×108 m/s), Planck's constant (h), and Avogadro's number (NA) are all values that remain fixed across all calculations and experiments under standard conditions.
For instance, the rate constant is a proportionality constant whose value is characteristic of a chemical reaction under certain conditions and remains unchanged as the reaction progresses.
It is different from a variable, which is a characteristic or measurement that can vary in different situations.