* Mixture: A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded. Each substance retains its individual properties.

* Compound: A substance formed when two or more elements chemically combine in a fixed ratio.

* Element: A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.

In sugar water:

* Sugar (sucrose) is a compound made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

* Water (H2O) is a compound made from hydrogen and oxygen.

When you mix sugar and water, the sugar dissolves in the water, but the sugar and water molecules don't chemically bond. They remain as separate substances, just dispersed throughout the water. You can easily separate the sugar from the water by evaporation, leaving the sugar behind.