Elements and Compounds
- Pure substances include elements and compounds.
- Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
- Examples of elements include chlorine, sulfur and copper.
Chlorine, sulfur and copper are elements – they have fixed physical and chemical properties, and cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
(Images: W. Oelen, Wikimedia Commons; Ben Mills, Wikimedia Commons; Jonathan Zander, Wikimedia Commons)
- Compounds can be broken down (chemically) into simpler substances.
- Examples of compounds include water, methane and copper sulfate.
Copper sulfate is a compound – it has fixed physical and chemical properties, but can be broken down into simpler substances (the elements copper, sulfur and oxygen).
(Image: Stephanb, Wikimedia Commons)