This is a new compound and loses the properties of the original compounds. The chemical formula for water is H2O, which means each molecule of water consists of one oxygen atom chemically bonded to two hydrogen atoms. The terms "molecule" and "compound" mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Water vapor is full of different crystals (mostly salts) that dissolve in water. Originally Answered: Is rain water compound or a mixture? Though water is everywhere on Earth, it is a very unusual compound because of the nature of the chemical bonds between its atoms. In the past, some schools taught that molecules consisted of atoms bonded via covalent chemical bonds, while compounds were formed via ionic bonds. It's also a molecule , which is any chemical species formed by two or more atoms chemically bonded to each other. It shapes our mountains, carves our oceans, and drives our weather. D. Solids, liquids, and gases can form compounds but not mixtures By this definition, water is both a molecule and a compound. Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha. The chemical formula for water is H 2 O, which means each molecule of water consists of one oxygen atom chemically bonded to two hydrogen atoms. Sometimes confusion arises because the definitions of molecule and compound haven't always been so clear-cut. the elements in a compound are always present in a fixed ratio.it is a pure matter. Water as a chemical is a compound consisting of 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen bonded together. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Therefore, water is not a mixture; it is a compound and it is pure. Also, some molecules contain both ionic and covalent bonds between the various atoms. Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors? Answered March 30, 2018. ionic compounds and covalent compounds. Compound versus Mixture comparison chart; Compound Mixture; Definition: A compound contains atoms of different elements chemically combined together in a fixed ratio. A compound is usually makeup by a mixture of two or more separate elements by chemical bonding. In some traditional sense, you could consider water an element, but it doesn't qualify as an element according to the scientific definition—an element is a substance consisting of only one type of atom. Other planets that are not water-rich have had very different natural histories. Is Water an Element, Compound or Mixture. In summary, the modern definition of a compound is a type of molecule consisting of at least two different types of atoms. Thus, water is a compound. However, if you heat it up, the iron and the sulfur would combine chemically, and a new compound would be formed, which we call "iron sulfur" (F e S). However, as scientists came to understand chemical bonding better, the line between ionic and covalent bonds became fuzzier. C. Compounds are commonly found in nature but not mixtures. Other elements included earth, air, fire, and sometimes metal, wood, or spirit. there are two known types of compounds e.g. These hydrogen bonds keep water liquid over a wide range of temperatures. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Compounds With Both Ionic and Covalent Bonds, Ionic vs Covalent Bonds - Understand the Difference, Chemistry Vocabulary Terms You Should Know, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Thus, water is a compound. Oxygen gas (O2) and ozone (O3), for example, are substances that are molecules but not compounds. The slightly positive hydrogen atoms and slightly negative oxygen atoms cause molecules of water to bond with one another, creating the many hydrogen bonds present in water. It may possibly have small amounts of other liquids, trapped gases, and small particulates of dirt and pollution as well.