Elements,Mixtures, and Compounds:

Compounds- 

• consists of atoms of two or more different elements bound together,
• can be broken down into a simpler type of matter (elements) by chemical means (but not by physical means),
• has properties that are different from its component elements, and
• always contains the same ratio of its component atoms.

  Elements-

• consists of only one kind of atom,
• cannot be broken down into a simpler type of matter by either physical or chemical means and can exist as either atoms (e.g. argon) or molecules (e.g., nitrogen).

    Mixtures-

• consists of two or more different elements and/or compounds physically intermingled,
• can be separated into its components by physical means, and
• often retains many of the properties of its components.