compound
compound Substance formed by chemical combination of two or more elements that cannot be separated by physical means. Compounds are produced by the rearrangement of valency electrons (outer electrons of an atom) seeking more stable configurations. They usually have properties different from their constituent elements. Ionic compounds have ionic bonds – they are collections of oppositely charged ions. They have high melting and boiling points, due to the electrostatic forces of attraction holding their crystal lattice together. Covalent bonds occur where non-metal atoms share electrons. Such compounds can be classified as simple molecular structures, such as carbon dioxide, with low melting and boiling points; or giant molecular structures, such as graphite and diamond. Their properties depend on the arrangement of the atoms in the macromolecule. See also molecule; valence
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compound
