![photostudio_1646649953218.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmavCPkcurzEQNwZhfp9WQLjSSuMqEfAD4JajLmBqvdbg8/photostudio_1646649953218.jpg)[Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/laboratorio-investigar-qu%c3%admica-217074/) ## Element, Compounds and Mixtures ##

Chemistry is a science that studies matter - [where matter is anything that has wight and can occupy space.] [Chemistry](https://www.uidaho.edu/sci/chem/undergraduate/what-is-chemistry#:~:text=Chemistry%20is%20a%20branch%20of%20natural%20science%20that,the%20range%20from%20qualitative%20in%20focus%20to%20quantitative.) is interested in explaining what matter is made up of, it's properties or characteristics, how it changes from one form to another and what caused the change. This topic is interested in the makeup of materials and the chemistry terminology used in describing such materials. Based on the fact thet all forms of [matter](https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-matter-and-examples-604565#:~:text=In%20science%2C%20matter%20is%20the%20term%20for%20any,used%20to%20refer%20to%20a%20pure%20substance%20.) are made up of very tiny building blocks called atoms. An atom is Defined as the smallest indivisible particles of matter. A standard periodic table shows us an arrangement of the different atoms in it's order of increasing atomic number. ### Elements ### When a material is made up of a single type of atoms, such a material is described as an element in chemistry. It is a substance that **can't** be further broken down into another material. To explain it in simple terms, a bag of rice containing only grains of rice is pure rice. If for any reason we find some beans in the rice, then it's not pure rice. An [element](https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-element-chemistry-604452) is a pure material containing only a single type of atoms. In reality, it is very rare to fine elements occuring naturally, a material made up of only a single type of electron is usually man made. ![chemistry-g14995c8fc_1920.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmb1wtNbxepVM7QGGvExcgwhjgNiKV3HCdC79mAmZp36Co/chemistry-g14995c8fc_1920.jpg) [Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/qu%c3%admica-mortero-principios-qu%c3%admicos-2081994/) ### Mixture ### A mixture is a combination of two or more elements but the combination is in such a way that it can be easily separated using a simple physical technique. If we should pour some water into a container containing sand, the two materials will become a mixture. It's a [mixture](https://byjus.com/chemistry/mixtures/) because the materials can easily be separated. The sand and water described here will create a heterogeneous mixture. If you were to bring together Suger and water, the two will blend together in such a way that you can't tell the sugar from the water, yet it can be separated using evaporation. This type of mixture is a homogeneous mixture. Mixtures are often the result of a physical change where there is no chemical bond between the materials. The end result of a mixture will either be a solutions, a colloids, or a suspensions. ![jar-g23d6b87ab_1920.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcutoZnC6QU5ewmE36ogSeXTvjV6YF9bnBi9nz5JFWv15/jar-g23d6b87ab_1920.jpg)[Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/frasco-cubilete-laboratorio-l%c3%adquido-1825274/) ^{Note that I have avoided the use of the English word "mix" instead I used "brought together" so that I can use the chemistry term mixture without creating any confusion in this text.} ### Compound ### A compound is a chemistry terminology used to describe a new material formed as a result of bringing together two or more elements or materials, such that the new material is completely different from all that was brought together to form it because it was form due to a chemical reaction. It is usually impossible to use simple physical methods to separate and obtain the original materials that got together to form a [compound](https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-compound/Trends-in-the-chemical-properties-of-the-elements). Compounds are difficult to separate because the composing materials attach to each other using either [electrovalent](https://www.britannica.com/science/ionic-bond) bonds or [covalent](https://www.embibe.com/exams/covalent-bond/) bonds as the result of a chemical change.

![molecule-gdf44722aa_1280.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPPxqFVhmwvvUGZQ33aC9vphJRn1i5KsZToNpNGGzufav/molecule-gdf44722aa_1280.png) [source](https://pixabay.com/es/vectors/mol%c3%a9cula-compuesto-qu%c3%admico-v%c3%adnculo-35736/)

^{Examples
• When petrol and polystyrene is combined to create a simple paper glue
• If hydrogen and fluorine are brought together, it will result in a molecule of hydrogen fluoride}

### Conclusion ### To derive maximum benefit from this material, while reading through it, follow links to gain more information as knowledge is best retained when adequately linked to other body of knowledge.