Substances can be classified into three categories: elements, compounds and mixtures. An element is the purest form of a substance and cannot be further subdivided into non-identical fragments. A compound is made up of 2 or more elements in a fixed ratio. For example, water (H2O) is a compound and is formed by two elements: hydrogen and oxygen, mixed in a 2:1 ratio. Similarly, carbon dioxide (CO2) is made up of carbon and oxygen in a 1:2 ratio. Common salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), is composed of sodium and chlorine in a 1:1 ratio. We can find several examples of compounds in our daily lives. Methane (CH4), glucose (C6H12O6), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), etc., are just some of the common examples.
In comparison, a mixture is made up of elements or compounds in a non-fixed ratio and can be divided into individual constituents easily. For example, trail mix is a mixture.
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