Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
These are simple compounds, often containing elements like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur, which participate in chemical reactions to form more complex molecules.
Related terms
Element: A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
Compound: A substance made up of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds.
Chemical Reaction: A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.