Definition and Types of Chemical Compounds ;
A chemical compound is a substance composed of two or more atoms of different elements that are chemically bonded together. There are many different types of chemical compounds, including elements, molecules, and ions.
Elements are the simplest type of compound, and are composed of only one type of atom. Molecules are composed of two or more atoms of different elements that are chemically bonded together. Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that have been electrically charged.
Chemical compounds are substances composed of two or more elements that are chemically combined. The atoms of each element are held together by chemical bonds. The type and strength of the chemical bonds between the atoms determines the properties of the compound.
The simplest type of chemical compound is a binary compound, which is composed of two elements. The most common type of binary compound is water, which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. Other examples of binary compounds include carbon dioxide (carbon and oxygen) and nitrogen dioxide (nitrogen and oxygen).
Ternary compounds are composed of three elements. The most common type of ternary compound is salt, which is composed of sodium, chlorine, and water. Other examples of ternary compounds include ammonium chloride (ammonium, chlorine, and water) and copper(II) sulfate (copper, sulfur, and oxygen).
Quaternary compounds are composed of four elements. The most common type of quaternary compound is protein, which is composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Other examples of quaternary compounds include tetrachloromethane (carbon, chlorine, hydrogen, and oxygen) and pentachlorophenol (carbon, chlorine, hydrogen, and oxygen).