Here's why:
* Elements are the simplest pure substances that cannot be broken down further. They are made up of only one type of atom. Oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) are both elements.
* Compounds are formed when two or more different elements chemically combine in a fixed ratio. For example, water (H₂O) is a compound because it is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
So, while both oxygen and hydrogen are essential components of many compounds, they are distinct elements themselves.