Final answer:
Elements are fundamental substances with unique properties, while compounds are formed from two or more elements chemically bonded in a fixed proportion with different properties than the individual elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The elements from a compound differ from the compound itself in several key ways. An element is a fundamental chemical substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary chemical means. There are about 115 known elements, each with its unique set of properties.
A compound is formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion. Compounds possess totally different chemical and physical properties than the elements that comprise them. For instance, sodium is a metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas, but when combined, they form sodium chloride (table salt), which is an entirely different substance with its own distinct properties.
When atoms of an element are combined, they form molecules of that element, which contain only one type of atom. However, molecules of compounds contain two or more types of atoms chemically bonded together in a specific ratio. For example, the compound glucose is consistently composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 6:12:6 ratio respectively, signifying a distinct and unchanging chemical composition.