1. Made of multiple elements: Sugar (specifically sucrose) is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms bonded together in a specific ratio. This combination of different elements is a key characteristic of a compound.
2. Fixed composition: The ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a sugar molecule is always the same. This means a sugar molecule will always have 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms (C12H22O11). This fixed composition differentiates it from a mixture, where the components can vary.
3. New properties: Sugar has properties that are distinct from the individual elements that make it up. For instance, sugar is sweet, dissolves in water, and can be burned, all properties that neither carbon, hydrogen, nor oxygen possess on their own.
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