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A defining characteristic of a compound is that it has a [[chemical formula]]. Formulas describe the ratio of atoms in a substance, and the number of atoms in a single molecule of the substance (thus the formula for [[ethene]] is C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> rather than CH<sub>2</sub>). The formula does not indicate that a compound is composed of [[molecule]]s; for example, [[sodium chloride]] ([[table salt]], NaCl is an [[ionic compound]]. |
A defining characteristic of a compound is that it has a [[chemical formula]]. Formulas describe the ratio of atoms in a substance, and the number of atoms in a single molecule of the substance (thus the formula for [[ethene]] is C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> rather than CH<sub>2</sub>). The formula does not indicate that a compound is composed of [[molecule]]s; for example, [[sodium chloride]] ([[table salt]], NaCl is an [[ionic compound]]. |
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| − | Compounds may have a number of possible phases of matter |
+ | Compounds may have a number of possible phases of matter [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phases_of_matter]. All compounds can exist as [[solid]]s. Molecular compounds may also exist as [[liquid]]s or [[gas]]es. All compounds will decompose to smaller compounds or individual [[atom]]s if [[heat]]ed to a certain [[temperature]] (called the decomposition temperature [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decomposition_temperature]). Every chemical compound that has been described in the literature carries a unique numerical [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical] identifier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identifier], its CAS number [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAS_number]. |
{{enWP|Chemical compound}} |
{{enWP|Chemical compound}} |
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Revision as of 23:19, 3 December 2017
A chemical compound is a chemical substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. For example, hydrogen oxide (water,H2O} is a compound composed of two hydrogen atoms for every oxygen atom.
Characteristic
A defining characteristic of a compound is that it has a chemical formula. Formulas describe the ratio of atoms in a substance, and the number of atoms in a single molecule of the substance (thus the formula for ethene is C2H4 rather than CH2). The formula does not indicate that a compound is composed of molecules; for example, sodium chloride (table salt, NaCl is an ionic compound.
Compounds may have a number of possible phases of matter [1]. All compounds can exist as solids. Molecular compounds may also exist as liquids or gases. All compounds will decompose to smaller compounds or individual atoms if heated to a certain temperature (called the decomposition temperature [2]). Every chemical compound that has been described in the literature carries a unique numerical [3] identifier [4], its CAS number [5].
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