* Pure gold: A ring made of *pure* gold would be an element. Gold (Au) appears on the periodic table and cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

* Gold alloys: Most gold rings are not pure gold. They are usually alloys, meaning they are mixtures of gold with other metals like silver, copper, or nickel.

Key Points:

* Mixtures are combinations of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded. The substances in a mixture retain their individual properties.

* Compounds are formed when two or more elements chemically combine in a fixed ratio. The resulting compound has properties different from the original elements.

Since a gold ring often contains other metals, it's a mixture, not a pure element or a compound.