Question

How do elements make up compounds?

Answer 1

Hint: Elements are the substance which contains the same type of atoms. Compounds are substances which are composed of more than one element.

Complete step by step answer:
Elements are the basic units of the matter. Each of the individual elements is composed of only one atom. For example elemental oxygen is composed of only oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms are composed of only nitrogen atoms.
Each element corresponds to a single entry on the periodic table. Each atom of the elements contains the same number of protons. Elements are not divided into smaller units without large amounts of energy.
On the other hand compounds are substances which are formed when more than one element combines with each other. Compounds are formed with covalent or ionic bonds. They involve combinations of atoms of the same or different elements in varied proportions.
For example carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are two different compounds. Both of these are compounds of carbon and oxygen. In carbon monoxide one carbon reacts with one oxygen atom to produce \[CO\] and in carbon dioxide one carbon reacts with two oxygen atoms to produce \[C{O_2}\]. The ratio of the atoms carbon and oxygen in both compounds are different.
Compounds are made from elements with the help of chemical reactions. For example combustion of fuel and air in an engine causes dissociation of gas molecules to atoms which further recombine to generate compounds like \[NO\], \[N{O_2}\]etc.
The element uses the valence electrons present in them to form ionic and covalent bonds for forming compounds. The orbitals containing the electrons undergo hybridization to generate various shapes and sizes of the compounds.

Note: Elements are composed of one kind of atom, while compounds are composed of two or more kinds of atoms that are chemically bonded. Ionic bonds are formed by donating and accepting of electrons while covalent bonds are formed by sharing of valence electrons.