These bonds form as a result of the sharing or exchange of electron s among the atoms. Compounds are made of component elements, while elements are elemental — natural and simple on their own. and so on. What causes the atoms of a water molecule to “stick” together? Elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions. An element is a pure chemical substance made of same type of atom. Sometimes foreign elements are trapped inside crystal structure of compounds giving them a non homogeneous structure. They lack the properties of metals. Each atom has the same atomic number i.e., the same number of protons in their nucleus. The negatively charged electrons of an atom are attracted to the positively charged protons in the nucleus by a force called electromagnetic force, for which opposite charges attract. If all molecules in a substance are the same, we speak of a pure substance, otherwise it's a mixture. It is very important … Not all molecules are compounds, because some molecules, such as hydrogen gas or ozone, consist only of one element, of only one type of atom . If an atom has more or fewer electrons than protons, then it has an overall negative or positive charge, respectively, and it is called an ion. Elements are distinguished by their name, symbol, atomic number, melting point, boiling point, density and ionization energies. A chemical substance may be either an element or a compound. Elements that compose the compound are chemically combined. Review: An element contains just one type of atom. Compounds can form only in chemical reactions, and they can break down only in other chemical reactions. Like all living cells, they are made of matter. An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of that element. Bonds in molecules involve atoms sharing electrons. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element is therefore not a compound. Before the 1800s the usage of term compound could also mean a mixture. Compounds are composed of different elements in a fixed proportion. • Elements are pure substances, which consist of only a single type of atom.