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compound1

  (kŏm-pound', kəm-, kŏm'pound') pronunciation
compound<sup>1</sup>
(Click to enlarge)
compound1
left: pinnately compound leaf
right: palmately compound leaf
(Elizabeth Morales)

v., -pound·ed, -pound·ing, -pounds.

v.tr.
  1. To combine so as to form a whole; mix.
  2. To produce or create by combining two or more ingredients or parts: pharmacists compounding prescriptions.
  3. To settle (a debt, for example) by agreeing on an amount less than the claim; adjust.
  4. To compute (interest) on the principal and accrued interest.
  5. To add to; increase: High winds compounded the difficulties of the firefighters.
v.intr.
  1. To combine in or form a compound.
  2. To come to terms; agree.
adj. (kŏm'pound', kŏm-pound', kəm-)
  1. Consisting of two or more substances, ingredients, elements, or parts.
  2. Botany. Composed of more than one part.
n. (kŏm'pound')
  1. A combination of two or more elements or parts. See synonyms at mixture.
  2. Linguistics. A word that consists either of two or more elements that are independent words, such as loudspeaker, baby-sit, or high school, or of specially modified combining forms of words, such as Greek philosophia, from philo-, “loving,” and sophia, “wisdom.”
  3. Chemistry. A pure, macroscopically homogeneous substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions that cannot be separated by physical means. A compound usually has properties unlike those of its constituent elements.
  4. Botany.
    1. A leaf whose blade is divided into two or more distinct leaflets.
    2. A pistil composed of two or more united carpels.

[Alteration of Middle English compounen, from Old French componre, compondre, to put together, from Latin compōnere. See component.]

compoundable com·pound'a·ble adj.
compounder com·pound'er n.
com·pound2 (kŏm'pound') pronunciation
n.
  1. A building or buildings, especially a residence or group of residences, set off and enclosed by a barrier.
  2. An enclosed area used for confining prisoners of war.

[Alteration of Malay kampong, village.]


 
 

Concept

A compound is a chemical substance in which atoms combine in such a way that the compound always has the same composition, unless it is chemically altered in some way. Elements make up compounds, and although there are only about 90 elements that occur in nature, there are literally many millions of compounds. A compound is not the same as a mixture, which has a variable composition, but until chemists understood the atomic and molecular substructure of compounds, the distinction was not always clear. When atoms of one element bond to atoms of another, they form substances quite different from either element. Sugar, for instance, is made up of carbon, the material in coal and graphite, along with two gases, hydrogen and oxygen. None of these is sweet, yet when they are brought together in just the right way, they make the compound that sweetens everything from breakfast cereals to colas. A compound cannot be understood purely in terms of its constituent elements; an awareness of the structure is also needed. Likewise, it is important to know just how to name a compound, using a uniform terminology, since there are far too many substances in the world to give each an individual name.

How It Works

Elements and Compounds

A compound is a substance made up of atoms representing more than one element, and these atoms are typically joined in molecules. The composition of a compound is always the same: for instance, water always contains molecules composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom. It can be frozen or boiled, but the molecules themselves are unchanged, because freezing and boiling are merely physical processes. To transform one compound into another, on the other hand, requires a chemical change or reaction.

Likewise, a chemical change is required to break down a compound into its constituent elements. Water can be broken down by passing a powerful electric current through it. This process, known as electrolysis, separates water into hydrogen and oxygen, both of which are highly flammable gases. The fact that they can be joined to form water, a substance used for putting out most kinds of fires, illustrates the types of changes elements undergo when they join to form compounds.

The atoms in a compound do not change into other atoms; or to put it another way, the elements do not change into other elements. Though two hydrogen atoms bond with an oxygen atom to form water, they are still hydrogens, and the oxygen is still an oxygen. The atoms' elemental identity thus remains intact, and if these elements are separated, they can join with other elements to form entirely different compounds.

Letters and Elements; Words and Compounds

The nature of a compound is almost paradoxical: the constituent elements remain the same, yet the compound typically bears little resemblance to the elements that form it. How can this be? Perhaps an analogy to language, and the symbols used to express it, will serve to show that this apparent contradiction is not a contradiction atall—it is merely evidence of the complexities thatoccur when a simple particle contributes to alarger combination.

There are between 88 and 92 elements that appear in nature; figures vary, because a handful of the elements with atomic numbers less than 92 have not actually been found in nature, but were produced in laboratories. (All elements with an atomic number higher than that of uranium, which is 92, are artificial.) In any case, there are far more elements than there are letters in the English alphabet; yet even with 26 characters, it is possible to form an almost limitless vocabulary.

Let us focus on a single letter, g. Phonetically, it can make a hard sound, as in great, or a soft one, as in geranium. It may be silent, as in light, or it may combine with another letter to make either a typical "g" sound (edge) or a totally unexpected one (rough). It can slide into a vowel sound smoothly, as in singer, or with an almost imperceptible pause, as in finger. The complexities multiply when we consider the range of possibilities for the letter g, and all the resultant meanings involved: from God to dog, or from glory to degeneration.

What This Analogy Shows About Chemistry

One could go on endlessly in this vein, and all with just one letter; however, a few points need to be made regarding the analogy between letters of the alphabet and elements. First of all, in all of the examples given above, or any number of others, the g still remained a g. In the same way, an atom of hydrogen (another g-word!) is always a hydrogen, whether it combines with oxygen to form water, nitrogen to make ammonia, or carbon to produce petroleum.

Secondly, note that this illustration would have been more difficult if the letter chosen had been q or z, since these are used more rarely. Likewise, there are elements such as technetium or praseodymium that seldom come up in discussions of compounds. On the other hand, one cannot go far in the study of chemistry without running across compounds involving hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, various metals, or halogens such as fluorine.

A third point to consider is the fact that there is nothing about g itself that provides any information as to the meaning of the word it helps to form. Here the analogy to elements is imperfect, because the nature of the element's subatomic structure—particularly the configuration of electrons on the outer shell of the atom— provides a great deal of information as to how it will combine with other atoms.

Still, it is evident, as we have seen, that the properties of a compound cannot easily be predicted by studying the properties of its constituent elements—just as one cannot begin to define a word simply because it contains a g. On the other hand, knowledge of the sounds that g makes may help us to pronounce a word containing that letter. In the same way, the fact that a compound includes carbon provides a clue that the compound might be organic.

Even when we have all the letters to form a word, we still need to know how they are ordered. Loge and ogle contain the same letters, but one is a noun referring to a theater box, whereas the other is a verb meaning the act of looking at someone in an improper fashion. In chemistry, these are called isomers: two substances having identical chemical formulas, but differing chemical structures.

It so happens that g is also part of the suffix -ing, used in forming a gerund. Aside from being yet another g-word, a gerund is a substantive, or noun form of a verb: for instance, going. Once again, there is a similarity between words and compounds. Just as certain classes of words are formed by the addition of regular suffixes, so the naming of whole classes of compounds can be achieved by means of a uniform system of nomenclature.

Real-Life Applications

Distinguishing Between Compounds and Mixtures

To continue the analogy used above just one step further, a word is not just a collection of letters; it has to have a meaning. Likewise, the fact that various substances are mixed together does not necessarily make them a compound. Actually, the difference between a word and a mere collection of letters is somewhat greater than the difference between a compound and a mixture—a substance in which elements are not chemically bonded, and in which the composition is variable. A nonsensical string of characters serves no linguistic purpose; on the other hand, mixtures are an integral part of life.

Tea, whether iced or hot, is a mixture. So is coffee, or even wine. In each case, substances are added together and subjected to a process, but the result is not a compound. We know this because the composition varies. Depending on the coffee beans used, for instance, coffee can have a wide variety of flavors. If, in the brewing process, too much coffee is used in proportion to the water, the resulting mixture will be strong or bitter; on the hand, an insufficient coffee-to-water ratio will produce coffee that is too weak.

Note that a number of terms have been used here that, from a scientific standpoint at least, are vague. How weak is "too weak"? That all depends on the tastes of the person making the coffee. But as long as coffee beans and hot water are used, no matter what the proportion, the mixture is still coffee. On the other hand, when two oxygen atoms, rather than one, are chemically combined with two hydrogen atoms, the result is not "strong water." Nor is it "oxygenated water": it is hydrogen peroxide, a substance no one should drink.

Three principal characteristics serve to differentiate a compound from a mixture. First, as we have seen, a compound has a definite and constant composition, whereas a mixture can exist with virtually any proportion between its constituent parts. Second, elements lose their characteristic elemental properties once they form a compound, but the parts of a mixture do not. (For example, when mixed with water, sugar is still sweet.) Third, the formation of a compound involves a chemical reaction, whereas a mixture can be created simply by the physical act of stirring items together.

The Atomic and Molecular Keys

The means by which compounds are formed are discussed numerous times, and in various ways, throughout this book. A few of those particulars will be mentioned briefly below, in relation to the naming of compounds, but for the most part, there will be no attempt to explain the details of the processes involved in chemical bonding. The reader is therefore encouraged to consult the essays on Chemical Bonding and Electrons.

It is important, nonetheless, to recognize that chemists' knowledge is based on their understanding of the atom and the ways that electrons, negatively charged particles in the atom, bring about bonds between elements. Awareness of these specifics emerged only at the beginning of the twentieth century, with the discovery of subatomic particles. Another important threshold had been crossed a century before, with the development of atomic theory by English chemist John Dalton (1766-1844), and of molecular theory by Italian physicist Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856).

Around the same time, French chemists Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794) and Joseph-Louis Proust (1754-1826), respectively, clarified the definitions of "element" and "compound." Until then, the idea of a compound had little precise meaning for chemists, who often used the term to describe a mixture. Thus, French chemist Claude Louis Berthollet (1748-1822) asserted that compounds have variable composition, and for evidence he pointed to the fact that when some metals are heated, they form oxides, in which the percentage of oxygen increases with temperature.

Proust, on the other hand, maintained that compounds must have a constant composition, an argument supported by Dalton's atomic theory. Proust worked to counter Berthollet's positions on a number of particulars, but was still unable to explain why metals form variable alloys, or combinations of metals; no chemist at the time understood that an alloy is a mixture, not a compound.

Nonetheless, Proust was right in his theory of constant composition, and Berthollet was incorrect on this score. With the discovery of subatomic structures, it became possible to develop highly sophisticated theories of chemical bonding, which in turn facilitated understanding of compounds.

Types of Compounds

Organic Compounds

Though there are millions of compounds, these can be grouped into just a few categories. Organic compounds, of which there are many millions, are compounds containing carbon. The only major groupings of carbon-containing compounds that are not considered organic are carbonates, such as limestone, and oxides, such as carbon dioxide. Organic compounds can be further subdivided into a number of functional groups, such as alcohols. Within the realm of organic compounds, whether natural or artificial, are petroleum and its many products, as well as plastics and other synthetic materials.

The term "organic," as applied in chemistry, does not necessarily refer to living things, since the definition is based on the presence of carbon. Nonetheless, all living organisms are organic, and the biochemical compounds in living things form an important subset of organic compounds. Biochemical compounds are, in turn, divided into four families: carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.

Inorganic Compounds

Inorganic compounds can be classified according to five major groupings: acids, bases, salts, oxides, and others. An acid is a compound which, when dissolved in water, produces positive ions (atoms with an electric charge) of hydrogen. Bases are substances that produce negatively charged hydroxide (OH) ions when dissolved in water. An oxide is a compound in which the only negatively charged ion is an oxygen, and a salt is formed by the reaction of an acid with a base. Generally speaking, a salt is any combination of a metal and a nonmetal, and it can contain ions of any element but hydrogen.

The remaining inorganic compounds, classified as "others," are those that do not fit into any of the groupings described above. An important subset of this broad category are the coordination compounds, formed when one or more ions or molecules contributes both electrons necessary for a bonding pair, in order to bond with a metallic ion or atom.

Naming Compounds

In the early days of chemistry as a science, common names were applied to compounds. Water is an example of a common name; so is sugar, as well as salt. These names work well enough in everyday life, and in fact, chemists still refer to water simply as "water." (The only other common name still used in chemistry is ammonia.)

But as the number of compounds discovered and developed by chemists began to proliferate, the need for a systematic means of naming them became apparent. With millions of compounds, it would be nearly impossible to come up with names for every one. Furthermore, common names tell chemists nothing about the chemical properties of a particular substance.

Today, chemists use a system of nomenclature that is rather detailed but fairly easy to understand, once the rules are understood. We will examine this system briefly, primarily as it relates to binary compounds—compounds containing just two elements. Binary compounds are divided into three groups. The first two are ionic compounds, involving metals that form positively charged ions, or cations (pronounced KAT-ieunz). The third consists of compounds that contain only nonmetals. These groups are:

  • Type I: Ionic compounds involving a metal that always forms a cation of a certain electric charge.
  • Type II: Ionic compounds involving a metal (typically a transition metal) that forms cations with differing charges.
  • Type III: Compounds containing only nonmetals.

Cations and Anions

Cations are represented symbolically thus: H+, or Mg2+. The first, a hydrogen cation, has a positive charge of 1, but note that the 1 is not shown—just as the first power of a number is never designated in mathematics. In the second example, a magnesium cation, the superscript number, combined with the plus sign (which can either follow the number, as is shown here, or proceed it) indicates that the atom has a positive charge of two. Thus, even if one were not told that this is a cation, it would be easy enough to discern from the notation.

Anions (AN-ie-unz), or negatively charged ions, are represented in a similar way: H for hydride, an anion of hydrogen; or O2− for oxide. Note, however, that the naming of anions and cations is different. Cations are always called, for example, a hydrogen cation, or a magnesium cation. On the other hand, names of simple anions (involving a single atom) are formed by taking the root of the element name and adding an -ide: for example, fluoride (F).

Type I Binary Compounds

In a binary ionic compound, a metal combines with a nonmetal. The metal loses one or more electrons to become a cation, while the nonmetal gains one or more electrons to become an anion. Thus, table salt is formed by the joining of a cation of the metal sodium (Na+) and an anion of the nonmetal chlorine (Cl). Instead of the common name "salt," which can apply to a range of substances, its chemical name is sodium chloride.

In naming Type I binary compounds, of which sodium chloride is an example, the cation is always represented first by the name of the element. The anion follows, with the root name of the element attached to the-ide suffix, as described above. Another example is calcium sulfide, formed by a cation of the metal calcium (Ca2+) and an anion of the nonmetal sulfur (S2−).

Type Ii Binary Compounds

The chemical nomenclature for type II binary compounds is somewhat more complicated, because they involve metals that can have multiple positive charges. This is particularly true of the transition metals, a family of 40 elements in the middle of the periodic table distinguished from other elements by a number of characteristics. The name "transition" thus implies a break in the even pattern of the periodic table.

Iron (Fe), for instance, is a transition metal, and it can form cations with charges of 2+ or 3+, while copper (Cu) can form cations with charges of 1+ or 2+. When encountering positively charged cations, it is not enough to say, for instance, "iron oxide," or "copper sulfide," because it is not clear which iron cation is involved. To solve the problem, chemists use a system of Roman numerals.

According to this system, the cations referred to above are expressed in the name of a Type II binary compound thus: iron (II), iron (III), copper (I), and copper (II). This is followed with the name of the anion, as before, using the-ide suffix. Note that the Roman numeral is usually the same as the number of positive charges in the cation.

It should be noted, also, that there is an older system for naming Type II binary compounds with terms that incorporate the element name—often the Latin original, reflected in the chemical symbol—with a suffix. For instance, this system uses the word "ferrous" for iron (II) and "ferric" for iron (III). However, this method of nomenclature is increasingly being replaced by the one we have described here.

Type Iii Binary Compounds

In a Type III binary compound involving only nonmetals, the first element in the formula is referred to simply by its element name, as though it were a cation, while the second element is given an-ide suffix, as though it were an anion. If there is more than one atom present, prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms. These prefixes are listed below. It should be noted that mono-is never used for naming the first element in a type III binary compound.

  • mono-: 1
  • di-: 2
  • tri-: 3
  • tetra-: 4
  • penta-: 5
  • hexa-: 6
  • hepta-: 7
  • octa-: 8

Thus CO2 is called carbon dioxide, indicating one carbon atom and two oxygens. Again, mono-is not used for the first element, but it is used for the second: hence, the name of the compound with the formula CO is carbon monoxide. It is also possible to know the formula for a compound simply from the name: if confronted with a name such as "dinitrogen pentoxide," for instance, it is fairly easy to apply the rules governing these prefixes to discern that the substance is N2O5. Note that vowels at the end of a prefix are dropped when the name of the element that follows it also begins with a vowel: we say monoxide, not "monooxide"; and pentoxide, not "pentaoxide." This makes pronunciation much easier.

Polyatomic Ions and Acids

More complicated rules apply for polyatomic ions, which are charged groupings of atoms such as NH4NO3, or ammonium nitrate. The only way to learn how to name polyatomic ions is by memorizing the names of the constituent parts. In the above example, for instance, the first part of the formula, which has a positive charge, is always called ammonium, while the second part, which has a negative charge, is always called nitrate. A good chemistry textbook should provide a table listing the names of common polyatomic ions.

A number of polyatomic ions are called oxyanions, meaning that they include varying numbers of oxygen atoms combined with atoms of other elements. There are rules for designating the names of these polyatomic ions, some of which are listed in the essay on Ions and Ionization.

Still other rules govern the naming of acids; here again, the operative factor is the presence of oxygen. Thus, if the anion does not contain oxygen, the name of the acid is created by adding the prefix hydro-and the suffix -ic, as in hydrochloric acid. If the anion does contain oxygen, the root name of the principal element is joined to a suffix: depending on the relative numbers of oxygen atoms, this may be -ic or-ous.

Isomers

As observed much earlier, isomers are like two words with the same letters, but arranged in different ways. Specifically, isomers are chemical compounds having the same formula, but in which the atoms are arranged differently, thereby forming different compounds. There are two principal types of isomer: structural isomers, which differ according to the attachment of atoms on the molecule, and stereoisomers, which differ according to the locations of the atoms in space.

An example of structural isomerism is the difference between propyl alcohol and isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol: these two have differing properties, because their alcohol functional groups are not attached to the same carbon atom in the carbon chain to which the functional group is attached.

In a stereoisomer, on the other hand, atoms are attached in the same order, but have different spatial relationships. If functional groups are aligned on the same side of a double bond between two carbon atoms, this is called a cis isomer, from a Latin word meaning "on this side." If they are on opposite sides, it is called a trans ("across") isomer. Hence the term "trans fats," which are saturated fats that improve certain properties of foods—including taste—but which may contribute to heart disease.

Where to Learn More

"Chemical Compounds" (Web site). <http://www.netaccess.on.ca/~dbc/cic_hamilton/comp.html> (June 2, 2001).

"Chemtutor Compounds." Chemtutor (Web site). <http://www.chemtutor.com/compoun.htm> (June 2, 2001).

Fullick, Ann. Matter. Des Plaines, IL: Heinemann Library, 1999.

"Glossary of Products with Hazards A to Z" Environmental Protection Agency (Web site). <http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/products.htm> (June 2, 2001).

Knapp, Brian J. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures, Volume 2. Edited by Mary Sanders. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, 1998.

"List of Compounds" (Web site). <http://www.speclab.com/compound/chemabc.htm> (June 2, 2001).

Maton, Anthea. Exploring Physical Science. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1997.

"Molecules and Compounds." General Chemistry Online (Web site). <http://antoine.fsu.umd.edu/chem/senese/101/compounds/index.shtml> (June 2, 2001).

Oxlade, Chris. Elements and Compounds. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2001.

Zumdahl, Steven S. Introductory Chemistry: A Foundation, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.


 

Substances composed of two or more elements which do not vary in composition from sample to sample, and which have fixed and definite physical properties, such as density and refractive index. The elements in compounds cannot be separated by simple physical or mechanical means, but only by chemical treatment. When compounds are formed from their elements, heat is generated or absorbed. These properties distinguish them from mixtures. See also Element (chemistry).

Most chemical compounds are formed in fixed and definite proportions by weight from their elements, and they obey the laws of chemical combination. However, a number of solid compounds, known as nonstoichiometric compounds, exhibit departures from the law of definite proportions. See also Definite composition, law of; Multiple proportions, law of; Nonstoichiometric compounds.


 

The ability of an asset to generate earnings, which are then reinvested in order to generate their own earnings. In other words, compounding refers to generating earnings from previous earnings.

Also known as "compound interest".

Investopedia Says:
Suppose you invest $10,000 into Cory's Tequila Company (ticker: CTC). The first year, the shares rises 20%. Your investment is now worth $12,000. Based on good performance, you hold the stock. In Year 2, the shares appreciate another 20%. Therefore, your $12,000 grows to $14,400. Rather than your shares appreciating an additional $2,000 (20%) like they did in the first year, they appreciate an additional $400, because the $2,000 you gained in the first year grew by 20% too. If you extrapolate the process out, the numbers can start to get very big as your previous earnings start to provide returns. In fact, $10,000 invested at 20% annually for 25 years would grow to nearly $1,000,000 (and that's without adding any money to the investment)!

The power of compounding was said to be deemed the eighth wonder of the world - or so the story goes - by Albert Einstein.

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Thesaurus: compound

verb

    To bring or come together into a united whole: coalesce, combine, concrete, conjoin, conjugate, connect, consolidate, couple, join, link, marry, meld, unify, unite, wed, yoke. See assemble/disassemble.

adjective

    Consisting of two or more interconnected parts: complex, composite. See simple/complex.

noun

    The result of combining: combination, composite, conjugation, unification, union, unity. See assemble/disassemble.

 
Antonyms: compound

n

Definition: combination
Antonyms: element

v

Definition: make difficult; complicate
Antonyms: better, make easy, uncomplicate

v

Definition: mix, combine
Antonyms: divide, separate, unmix


 

n

1. a combination of elements held together in a well-defined pattern by chemical bonds. In pharmacy, a mixture of drugs. 2. a thermoplastic substance used as a nonelastic impression material.

 

Any substance composed of identical molecules consisting of atoms of two or more elements. Millions are known, each unique, with unique properties. Most common materials are mixtures of compounds. Pure compounds can be obtained by physical separation methods, such as precipitation and distillation. Compounds can be broken down into their constituents to various degrees or changed into new compounds by chemical reactions. Atoms always combine into molecules in fixed proportions, distinguishing compounds from solutions and other mechanical mixtures. Compounds are often classified as inorganic and organic compounds; coordination complexes, which contain metal atoms (usually transition elements) bonded to ligands that may be organic, are somewhat in between. Compounds may also be classified by whether they have ionic or covalent bonds (many include both types).

For more information on compound, visit Britannica.com.

 
in chemistry, a substance composed of atoms of two or more elements in chemical combination, occurring in a fixed, definite proportion and arranged in a fixed, definite structure. A compound is often represented by its chemical formula. The formula for water is H2O, and for sodium chloride, NaCl. The formula weight of a compound can be determined from its formula. The molecular weight of a molecular compound can be determined from its molecular formula. Two or more distinct compounds that have the same molecular formula but different properties are called isomers.

Formation and Decomposition of Compounds

Compounds are formed from simpler substances by chemical reaction. Some compounds can be formed directly from their constituent elements, e.g., water from hydrogen and oxygen: 2H2+O2→2H2O. Other compounds are formed by reaction of an element with another compound; e.g., sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is formed (and hydrogen gas released) by the reaction of sodium metal with water: 2Na+2H2O→2NaOH+H2↑. Compounds are also made by reaction of other compounds; e.g., sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrogen chloride (HCl) to form sodium chloride and water: HCl+NaOH→NaCl+H2O. Complex molecules such as proteins are formed by a series of reactions involving elements and simple compounds.

Compounds can be decomposed by chemical means into elements or simpler compounds. Water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. Candle wax, a mixture of hydrocarbons, is changed in the candle flame by combustion (with oxygen) to a mixture of the simpler compounds carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. Life is based on numerous reactions in which energy is stored and released as compounds are produced and decomposed.

Properties of Compounds

A compound has unique properties that are distinct from the properties of its elemental constituents. One familiar chemical compound is water, a liquid that is nonflammable and does not support combustion. It is composed of two elements: hydrogen, an extremely flammable gas, and oxygen, a gas that supports combustion. A compound differs from a mixture in that the components of a mixture retain their own properties and may be present in many different proportions. The components of a mixture are not chemically combined; they can be separated by physical means. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases is still a gas and can be separated by physical methods. If the mixture is ignited, however, the two gases undergo a rapid chemical combination to form water. Although the hydrogen and oxygen can occur in any proportion in a mixture of gases, they are always combined in the exact proportion of two atoms of hydrogen to one atom of oxygen when combined in the compound water. Another familiar compound is sodium chloride (common salt). It is composed of the silvery metal sodium and the greenish poisonous gas chlorine combined in the proportion of one atom of sodium to one atom of chlorine.

Molecular and Ionic Compounds

Water is a molecular compound; it is made up of electrically neutral molecules, each containing a fixed number of atoms. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound; it is made up of electrically charged ions that are present in fixed proportions and are arranged in a regular, geometric pattern (called crystalline structure) but are not grouped into molecules. The atoms in a compound are held together by chemical bonding (see chemical bond).


 

In chemistry, a substance containing two or more elements in definite proportions.

 

The annual addition of earned interest to a capital sum of borrowed or loaned money at the existing market interest rate, including the interest earned by the accumulated interest; calculated future value of an existing capital sum.

 
Word Tutor: compound
pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A substance or thing made of two or more combined parts.

pronunciation All human power is a compound of time and patience. — Honore de Balzac (1799-1850), French writer.

 
Wikipedia: compound (disambiguation)

Compound may refer to:

  • Compound fracture, complete fractures of bone where at least one fragment has damaged the skin, soft tissue or surrounding body cavity
  • Compound (linguistics), a word that consists of more than one radical element
  • Compound (music), an attribute of an interval or time signature
  • Compound chocolate, a chocolate substitute
  • Compound locomotive, a locomotive in which exhaust steam is re-used in a low pressure cylinder (or cylinders)
  • Compound sentence, a type of sentence made up of two or more independent clauses and no subordinate (dependent) clauses
  • Compounding, the origin of pharmacy which is still continued today

 
Translations: Translations for: Compound

Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - blanding, sammensætning, forbindelse
adj. - sammensat, kombineret, koloni-
v. tr. - sammensætte, øge, udgøre, bilægge, se gennem fingre med
v. intr. - opnå akkord, indgå forlig

idioms:

  • compound fracture    kompliceret brud
  • compound interest    rentes rente

2.
n. - indhegnet område, afgrænset område

Nederlands (Dutch)
samengesteld, groep omheinde gebouwen, verergeren, mengen, schikken (juridisch), samenstellen (woord)

Français (French)
1.
n. - (Chim) composé, mot composé
adj. - (gén, Biol, Chim) composé, (Ling) composé, (Méd) fracture (multiple)
v. tr. - aggraver, combiner, (Jur) transiger (sur une dette)
v. intr. - (Jur) composer (avec ses créanciers)

idioms:

  • compound fracture    fracture multiple
  • compound interest    intérêt composé

2.
n. - enceinte, clôture

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Verbindung, Kompositum
adj. - zusammengesetzt, kompliziert
v. - zusammensetzen, verbinden, mischen, beilegen, verschlimmern, (ab)zahlen

idioms:

  • compound fracture    komplizierter Bruch
  • compound interest    Zinseszins

2.
n. - (umzäuntes) Gelände, Lager

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - επιτείνω, αναμιγνύω, παρασκευάζω με ανάμιξη, συνδυάζω, εναρμονίζω, διακανονίζω, συμβιβάζω/-ομαι, (νομ.) επαυξάνω, επιβαρύνω
n. - (χημ.) ένωση, (γραμμ.) σύνθετη λέξη, περίβολος, καταυλισμός (εργατών κ.λπ.), στρατόπεδο αιχμαλώτων
adj. - (πολυ)σύνθετος, (μαθημ.) συμμιγής

idioms:

  • compound fracture    (ιατρ.) περιπεπλεγμένο κάταγμα
  • compound interest    (οικον.) σύνθετος τόκος, ανατοκιζόμενος τόκος

Italiano (Italian)
mescolare, aggravare, composto

idioms:

  • compound fracture    frattura multipla
  • compound interest    interesse composto

Português (Portuguese)
v. - compor, unir, aviar, concordar, resgatar, capitalizar, acobertar
n. - composto (m), mistura (f), locução (f) ou vocábulo (m) composto
adj. - composto, combinado, complexo (Mat.)

idioms:

  • compound fracture    fratura (f) exposta
  • compound interest    juro (m) composto

Русский (Russian)
комбинировать, улаживать, сложный, комбинированный

idioms:

  • compound fracture    осложненный перелом
  • compound interest    сложный процент

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - complejo, compuesto, mezcla, mixtura, preparación
adj. - complejo, compuesto
v. tr. - componer, mezclar, combinar, agravar
v. intr. - avenirse, arreglarse, pactar, transigir

idioms:

  • compound fracture    fractura complicada
  • compound interest    interés compuesto

2.
n. - palabra compuesta

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - blanda samman, bilägga, göra sig kvitt skuld, ordna genom skadestånd, efterskänka skuld/straff, förvärra, kompromissa
n. - sammansättning, sammansatt ämne, sammansatt ord, kompositum (språkv.)
adj. - sammansatt, komplicerad (med.)

中文(简体) (Chinese (Simplified))
1. 增加, 使恶化, 加重, 使化合, 使混合, 使合成, 妥协, 和解, 合成的, 混合的, 复合的, 混合物, 复合物, 化合物, 复合字, 复合句

idioms:

  • compound fracture    穿破骨折, 复杂骨折
  • compound interest    复利

2. 有围墙住宅群, 大院, 用围墙围起的场地, 院子

中文(繁體) (Chinese (Traditional))
1.
v. tr. - 增加, 使惡化, 加重, 使化合, 使混合, 使合成
v. intr. - 妥協, 和解
adj. - 合成的, 混合的, 複合的
n. - 混合物, 複合物, 化合物, 複合字, 複合句

idioms:

  • compound fracture    穿破骨折, 複雜骨折
  • compound interest    複利

2.
n. - 有圍牆住宅群, 大院, 用圍牆圍起的場地, 院子

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 합성물, 복합어
adj. - 복합의, 중문의
v. tr. - 혼합하다, 화해시키다
v. intr. - 타협하다, 혼합하여 하나가 되다

2.
n. - 구내, 울타리 친 백인의 주택, 포로수용소

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 混ぜ合わせる, 合成する, 作る, いっそうひどくする, 混合する
adj. - 合成の, 複合の
n. - 合成物, 化合物, 複合語, 地区

idioms:

  • compound fracture    複雑骨折
  • compound interest    複利

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) خلط, مزج, ركب, ارتكب (الاسم) مادة مركبه, مساحه تحتوي على أبنيه و منشئات, كلمه مركبه (صفه) مركب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮תרכובת, מלה מורכבת, הרכיב, ערבב, הגדיל, הגיע להסדר, התפשר, קיבל שוחד על מנת להסתלק מתביעה‬
v. intr. - ‮הגיע להסדר, התפשר, קיבל שוחד על מנת להסתלק מתביעה, נמנע מתביעה מסיבות אישיות‬
adj. - ‮מורכב‬
n. - ‮תרכובת, מלה מורכבת, מורכב‬
n. - ‮שטח מגודר, מגורי פועלים, מחנה עבודה בייחוד לאסירים, מתחם, מחנה שבויים‬


 
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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Science of Everyday Things. Science of Everyday Things. Copyright © 2002 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sci-Tech Encyclopedia. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Investment Dictionary. Copyright ©2000, Investopedia.com - Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Science Dictionary. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
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