Elements and Compounds

Do you know what is common in all the things that you see around, like tables, chairs, your friends, and even the tasty snacks in your bag? Let’s find out!

Imagine breaking a slice of bread into smaller and smaller pieces. Eventually, it would become tiny invisible particles called atoms.

Atoms are the basic units of all the elements, such as carbon, oxygen, or gold. There are over 100 elements, 92 of which occur naturally on Earth.

Each atom consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons. The protons and neutrons form the nucleus at the center, while electrons move in cloud-like regions around it.

The number of protons in an atom is specific for each element. For example, hydrogen has one proton, helium has two, and so on.

Atoms can combine to form molecules, like the oxygen we breathe or the water we drink. When atoms of different elements combine, they form compounds. For example, carbon dioxide forms when one carbon atom bonds with two oxygen atoms.

So, everything around us is essentially made of atoms!