COMPOUNDS

Different elements can join together to share electrons. When this happens, the result is a chemical compound. One of the most common compounds is water, the result of two hydrogen atoms joining with an atom of oxygen. There are literally thousands of dif- ferent chemical compounds that occur in nature.
A compound is different than a simple mixture of elements. If hydrogen and oxy- gen are mixed, the result is a colorless, odorless gas, just like either element is a gas separately. A spark, however, will cause the molecules to join together; this will liber- ate energy in the form of light and heat. Under the right conditions, there will be a vi- olent explosion, because the two elements join eagerly. Water is chemically illustrated in Compounds often, but not always, appear greatly different from any of the ele- ments that make them up. At room temperature and pressure, both hydrogen and oxy- gen are gases. But water under the same conditions is a liquid. If it gets a few tens of degrees colder, water turns solid at standard pressure. If it gets hot enough, water be- comes a gas, odorless and colorless, just like hydrogen or oxygen. Another common example of a compound is rust. This forms when iron joins with oxygen. While iron is a dull gray solid and oxygen is a gas, rust is a maroon-red or brownish powder, completely unlike either of the elements from which it is formed.