Homonym: Compound (Building)
A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements chemically bond together. For example, when hydrogen and oxygen combine, they create water, a common compound represented by the formula H2O. Compounds can have very different properties from the elements that make them up, which is why understanding them is essential in chemistry.
Compounds can be classified into two main types: ionic and covalent. Ionic compounds, like table salt (NaCl), form when electrons are transferred between atoms, while covalent compounds, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), form when atoms share electrons. These classifications help scientists predict how compounds will behave in different situations.