* Compound: A compound is formed when two or more elements chemically combine in a fixed ratio. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is formed by the chemical bonding of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms in a 1:1 ratio.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
* Mixture: A mixture is a combination of substances where each substance retains its individual properties. Table salt is not a mixture because sodium and chlorine lose their individual properties when they form the compound.
* Solution: A solution is a type of mixture where one substance (the solute) dissolves into another (the solvent). While table salt can dissolve in water, the salt itself is still a compound.
* Alloy: An alloy is a mixture of metals. Table salt doesn't contain any metals.
* Amalgam: An amalgam is a specific type of alloy where mercury is one of the metals. Table salt does not contain mercury.
