Difference between Elements and Compounds

Elements

Compounds

Made up of only 1 type of atoms

Made up of more than 1 type of atoms combined in a fixed ratio

Cannot be split into 2 or more simpler substances by physical or chemical reactions

Can be split into simpler substances (constituent atoms) by chemical reactions.

There are 118 elements known to us

There is no limit to number of compounds that can be formed

Represented by Symbol

Represented by Chemical Formula

Example : Copper (Cu ), Iron (Fe)

Example : Common Salt (NaCl), Sulphuric acid (H ₂ SO ₄ )