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)