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Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

Elements

Microscopic view of atoms of an element (gas phase). Microscopic view of molecules of an element (gas phase).
Microscopic view of the atoms of the element argon (gas phase). Microscopic view of the molecules of the element nitrogen (gas phase).

Note that an element:

A molecule consists of two or more atoms of the same element, or different elements, that are chemically bound together. Note that the two nitrogen atoms which comprise a nitrogen molecule move as a unit.

Compounds

Microscopic view of molecules of a compound (gas phase).
Microscopic view of the molecules of the compound water (gas phase). Oxygen atoms are red and hydrogen atoms are white.

Note that a compound:

Mixtures

Microscopic view of a mixture of two elements and a compound (gas phase).
Microscopic view of a gaseous mixture containing two elements (argon and nitrogen) and a compound (water).

Note that a mixture:

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