Compound vs.

Mixture

Compounds are pure substances. They are made from the same types
of molecules. Each molecule of a compound is made from two or more
different kinds of atoms that are chemically bonded. Mixtures are made of
two or more substances — elements or compounds — that are mixed
physically but not chemically; they do not contain any atomic bonds.

Comparison chart

Compounds VS Mixtures
Basis for Compound
Comparasion
Definition A compound contains atoms of
different elements chemically
combined together in a fixed ratio.
Composition Compounds contain different elements
in a fixed ratio arranged in a defined
manner through chemical bonds. They
contain only one type of molecule.
Elements that compose the compound
are chemically combined.
Ability to break A compound can be separated into
down simpler substances by chemical
methods/reactions.
Examples Water (H2O), Sodium chloride (NaCl),
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) etc.
Mixture
A mixture is a combination of two or
more substances where there is no
chemical combination or reaction.
Mixtures contain different elements
and compounds but the ratio is not
fixed nor are they combined via
chemical bonds. The ingredients are
physically mixed but chemically
separate. Often they are visibly
distinct.
A mixture can be separated into
simpler substances by physical or
mechanical methods.
Salt in water; pasta and sauce; sand;
pebbles; solutions such as rubbing
alcohol, dental amalgam, vapor in air;
colloids such as mayonnaise, milk,
cheese; coarse suspensions such as
mud in water, oil in water.

Montessori II Science II Compound vs Mixture

Constituents of Compounds and Mixtures

Compounds are made up of elements, which are pure substances with only one
kind of atoms. Atoms of the elements form bonds to combine and make up a molecule of the
compound. The compound contains a uniform distribution of these molecules.

A compound has different physical and chemical characteristics than its component
elements. It is not possible to see the elements when you see the compound. e.g. water is made of
hydrogen and oxygen but you cannot see either element separately when you look at water. Salt is
made of sodium and chloride but the physical and chemical properties of salt are completely
different from those of sodium or chloride.

Montessori II Science II Compound vs Mixture