An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements are the basic building blocks of matter and are represented by the symbols on the periodic table. For example, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) are both elements.
A compound, on the other hand, is a substance that consists of two or more elements chemically combined in fixed proportions. When elements react chemically, they form compounds with unique properties that differ from the individual elements. In the case of sodium chloride, sodium and chlorine react to form an ionic compound where sodium donates an electron to chlorine, resulting in the formation of positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-). These ions are then held together by electrostatic forces, forming the compound sodium chloride (NaCl).
Therefore, table salt (NaCl) is a compound and not an element.
