Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Compounds are substances composed of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together. They have unique properties distinct from the individual elements that form them.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Compounds can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
The smallest unit of a compound is called a molecule.
Compounds have fixed proportions of their constituent elements as described by specific chemical formulas.
Ionic and covalent bonds are the two main types of chemical bonds that form compounds.
The properties of a compound differ significantly from the properties of its constituent elements.
The smallest unit of a compound that retains all the properties of that compound, consisting of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.
Chemical Bond: An attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical substances containing two or more atoms; includes ionic and covalent bonds.