Compounds And Mixtures
Compounds and Mixtures differ both physically as well as chemically. While
Compounds are pure substances, mixtures are impure. Compounds are formed of two or
more elements combined chemically, on the other hand mixtures are formed by mixing two
or more substances physically only. The ratio of constituents or elements in a compound is
fixed while in mixtures substances can be and are available in varying ratios. While the
constituents of a compound can only be separated by complex chemical methods, easy
physical methods do the trick in Mixtures.
Elements are substances that are impossible to be divided while Compounds
are substances which are produced with the reaction of two or more constituent elements
(MathMol, n.d.). Though there are no physical methods to determine if a pure substance is
an element or a compound, there are some chemical methods which can help us solve the
issue. Moreover, Elements consist of simple kind of atom are almost impossible to
disintegrate or divide further. Compounds on the other hand can be easily divided into its
constituents by use of chemical methods or reactions. At times, study of physical chemistry
also helps us determine if a substance is an element or a compound. While elements have
uniform and specific boiling and melting points, they are non-uniform and varying for
the chemical compositions (Compounds).
In an ionic bond, the atoms are held together by the allurement between oppositely
charged ions and a covalent bond is about communion of electrons between atoms
(Helmenstine 2012). Both these bonds differ considerably in their structures and
chemical properties. While Covalent bonds are essentially produced amongst non-
metals, Ionic bonds are a result of two oppositely charged elements coming together.
Former involves sharing of electrons while electrons are transferred in the formation of the
latter. Covalent bonds have a specific shape while Ionic bonds have no specific shape. Last
but not the least, Covalent bonds have low boiling points and polarities while the values are
considerably higher for Ionic bonds.
Ionic bonding is the result of transmission electrons amongst atoms.
In Ionic bonds, metal gives away its electrons to become a cation, whereas the
non-metal gains and secures those electrons to become an anion (ChemWiki,
2010). The process necessarily takes place between elements from opposite
ends of table of elements as Metals on left hand side have lower electronegativity and less
electronegativity and more large number of electrons in their valence shell. The transfer of
electrons takes place from metals to the non-metals and hence the formation of Ionic
bonds. Couple of such compositions is NaCl and MgCl2 (Magnesium Chloride).
Covalent bonding is all about sharing of electrons among atoms and there is no
Change of possession, unlike Ionic bonds. This type of bonding occurs between two of the
same type of element or elements nearby in the table of elements (dlarsen, 2010).
This takes place amongst two non-metals, in most cases. Non-metals on the Dexter side of
the table of elements have high electronegativity and the force of attraction due to
electronegativity is higher than the force of repulsion due to their nucleuses of same
charges, due to which Covalent bonding takes place and is sustained. Hence the non-metals
share the electrons to obtain octet configuration and hence stability. For the covalent bonds
formation, elements with similar and high electronegativity are required and the criteria is
fulfilled by non-metals of given criteria. Two examples of such compounds are
H2O (Water) and NF3 (Nitrogen trifluoride).
MathMol (n.d.). Elements, Atoms and Molecules. Nyu.edu. Retrieved November 15, 2012,
Helmenstine Marie Anne (2012). What is the difference between an Ionic and Covalent
Chemical Bond?, About.com. Retrieved November 15, 2012,
dlarsen (2010). Ionic and Covalent Bonds, ucdavis.edu. Retrieved November 15, 2012,
