What is a Compound in Chemistry?

Have you ever mixed different colors of paint to create a new one? In chemistry, something similar happens when elements combine to form a compound. A compound is a substance made when two or more different elements join together. These elements stick together through a special connection called a chemical bond, making something entirely new!

Imagine you’re building with LEGO blocks. Each block is like an element, and when you snap them together, you create a new structure, just like a compound. Water is a perfect example of a compound. It’s made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, which come together to make something new that we can drink and swim in!

Compounds have different properties than the individual elements that make them up. For example, salt is a compound made from sodium, which is a soft, shiny metal, and chlorine, a yellow-green gas. When combined, they make the white crystals of salt we use to season our food! Isn’t it amazing how elements can come together to create such useful and interesting compounds?