compound
Definition
A compound is a substance formed when two or more different types of atoms bond together chemically. In anatomy and physiology, compounds play crucial roles in the body's structure and metabolic processes.
Analogy
Think of a compound as a team created in a sports league draft. Just as a team combines players with different skills to achieve success, a compound combines atoms with different properties to create a substance with unique characteristics.
Related terms
Atom: The smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element.
Chemical Bond: A force of attraction between two atoms that holds them together in a compound.
Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction
"compound" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.