Compounds are atoms of specific elements that are bonded due to chemical reactions. Mixtures are particles that are not chemically bonded, but just close together. While compounds are much harder to break down, most of the time, it is very easy to split apart different elements in a mixture.

Now, there are two types of mixtures. There are homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures. It is hard to see with the naked eye in homogenous mixtures if there is more than one compound in it. For example, say you put salt in water and shake. You won't see any salt after a while unless the amount of salt and water isn't proportional. In this example, the salty water is a solution which is a type of homogenous mixture. Heterogeneous mixtures are mixtures where we can see the different substances with our eyes and don't need any tools to see the different substances. For example, salt is a mixture. If you look closely, the mixture is not of one substance. Mixtures are made of multiple compounds or atoms like air. Now, what do scientists use to classify a mixture as either heterogeneous or homogeneous? The criteria are composition, physical properties, and appearance. If all of these are the same, it is homogeneous. If not, then it is heterogeneous.

Compounds are considered pure substances, unlike mixtures. This means that they aren't physically near each other, but they are bonded chemically. Examples include water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. The biggest takeaway is that compounds are chemically bonded while mixtures are physically close to other particles, but they are consistent with multiple elements.