The Universe - Properties of Mixtures, Compounds, and Bonding - Essay Example

The physical methods only involve movements of the mixture’s components without any form of reaction as in the separation of compounds. As a result, the separation of mixtures does not change the composition of the components while the separation of compounds does. Another difference between a mixture and a compound is that the separation of a mixture does not involve a change in the chemical properties of components while the separation of compounds is associated with changes in chemical properties from those of the compound’s components to the separated products. Consequently, a mixture exhibits characteristics that are the same as those of its components, unlike a compound whose properties are completely different from those of its components. Another difference between mixtures and compounds is that a mixture can contain any ratio of its components while a compound is composed of distinct component ratios (Ramsden, 2001).

Differentiating a pure compound from a pure element
An element can be distinguished from a compound through chemical processes in which an element, in case of a reaction, will form a homogeneous product while a compound will form different products due to differences in the chemical properties of its elements (Ramsden, 2001).

Difference between ionic and covalent bonds

Ionic bonds and covalent bonds have several differences. Ionic bonds for example occur between metallic elements and ‘non-metallic’ elements while covalent bonds form between ‘non-metallic’ elements. While ionic bonds form electrolytic compounds, that conduct electricity in a liquid or aqueous state, covalent bonds form ‘non-electrolytic’ compounds. Another difference between ionic bonds and covalent bonds is that while ionic bonds have a similar trend in characteristics, covalent bonds exhibit different trends in characteristics due to different types of covalent bonds (Ramsden, 2001).

Reason for the formation of ionic bonds between metals and ‘non-metals’
The reason for the reaction between metals and ‘non-metals’ to form ionic bonds is that metals lose electrons while ‘non-metals gain electrons for stability, forming oppositely charged ions that constitute the metallic bond. The metals lose their outermost electrons that are gained by the ‘non-metals’ for the stability of both elements. While the elements are unstable and utilize energy to either, lose or gain electrons for stability, metals require less energy to lose electrons than to gain.
Reason for the formation of covalent bonds between ‘non-metals’

Covalent bonds are formed between ‘non-metals’ because they cannot easily lose their outermost electrons and instead prefer to share electrons to gain stability in their outermost energy levels. Examples of covalent bonds include silicon nitride and methane (Campbell, 2008). Read More