What is the Difference Between Alloy and Compound?

The main difference between an alloy and a compound lies in the way their constituent elements are mixed and held together. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Definition: An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, while a compound is a chemical substance made up of identical molecules consisting of atoms from various elements bonded together by chemical bonds.
2. Chemical Bonds: Alloys do not have chemical bonds between the elements, whereas compounds do have chemical bonds between their constituent elements.
3. Proportions: Alloys do not have strict proportions in elemental composition, but compounds do have fixed ratios for each element present.
4. Characteristics: Alloys often have enhanced properties compared to the individual elements, while compounds carry traces of elemental characteristics.
5. Examples: Some common examples of alloys include steel (iron and carbon), brass (copper and zinc), and bronze (copper and tin). Examples of compounds include sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and water (H2O).

In summary, an alloy is a mixture of elements, at least one of which is a metal, without chemical bonds between the elements, while a compound is a chemical substance with fixed ratios of elements bonded together by chemical bonds.

Comparative Table: Alloy vs Compound

Here is a table comparing the differences between an alloy and a compound:

In summary, an alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and is formed by melting and mixing the metals. Compounds, on the other hand, are substances formed from two or more elements chemically combined in fixed ratios through specific chemical reactions.