Definition

Noun: A substance composed of two or more different chemical elements that are chemically bonded together in a fixed and definite proportion by weight. It is a distinct substance with properties different from those of its constituent elements.

Usage

The term "chemical compound" is used to describe a pure substance formed from a chemical reaction between elements or other compounds. It refers to the fundamental concept in chemistry where atoms of different elements join in specific ratios.

Examples

• Water is a chemical compound composed of hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio.
• Table salt, or sodium chloride, is a chemical compound essential for human health.
• Scientists synthesized a new chemical compound in the laboratory to test its medicinal properties.
• The properties of a chemical compound are distinct from the elements that form it.

Advanced Usage

• "Binary compound": A chemical compound composed of exactly two different elements (e.g., carbon dioxide, CO₂).
• "Coordination compound": A chemical compound consisting of a central metal atom or ion bonded to surrounding molecules or anions.
• The concept of a chemical compound is central to understanding molecular structure and chemical reactions.

Variants and Related Words

• Compound (noun): Often used as a shorter form of "chemical compound" in technical contexts (e.g., "an organic compound").
• Molecule: While often used interchangeably in casual speech, a molecule is the smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its chemical properties. Not all molecules are compounds (e.g., O₂ is a molecule but not a compound, as it contains only one element).
• Substance: A more general term that can refer to elements, mixtures, or chemical compounds.

Synonyms

• Chemical substance
• Molecular compound (for compounds that exist as discrete molecules)

Antonyms

• Element: A pure substance consisting of only one type of atom.
• Mixture: A physical combination of two or more substances (elements or compounds) that are not chemically bonded and can be separated by physical means.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Chemical formula: A representation of a chemical compound using symbols for its constituent elements and numerical subscripts to show the proportions (e.g., H₂O for water).
• Chemical bond: The force that holds the atoms together within a chemical compound.
• Ionic compound: A chemical compound formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions (e.g., NaCl).
• Covalent compound: A chemical compound where atoms share electrons (e.g., H₂O).

Noun

1. (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight