Question

Describe the various properties of compounds.

Answer 1

Compound:

• A compound is formed by a chemical combination of two or more elements in a definite ratio

Properties of compound:

i. Composition:

• The composition of a particular compound remains fixed irrespective of its source.
• For example Water may be drawn from the city or a village or a well, it is found that each molecule of water will have two atoms of hydrogen combined with one atom of oxygen in every case.

ii. Separation by chemical methods:

• It is not possible to separate elements from their compounds by physical methods of separation
• compounds can be broken down into their elements by chemical methods.
• For example, water can be broken down into its constituent elements, hydrogen, and oxygen, by passing an electric current through it.

iii. Properties different from constituent elements:

• The properties of compounds are very different from the properties of their constituent elements
• For example when hydrogen ( ${\mathrm{H}}_2$) combines with oxygen ( ${\mathrm{O}}_2$), it forms water ( ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$). Hydrogen is combustible, oxygen is a supporter, but water is an extinguisher and it is different from hydrogen and oxygen.