Which of the following correctly describes a compound?

Question

The atoms are bonded together, and the compound has different physical and chemical properties than the individual elements.
The atoms have no set ratio for how the atoms can combine, and they are not chemically bonded together.
The atoms can only combine in fixed ratios, and they retain their individual chemical and physical properties.
The atoms retain their individual chemical properties, and they can only be separated from each other by a chemical change.

Answer 1

The correct description of a compound is:

The atoms are bonded together, and the compound has different physical and chemical properties than the individual elements.

This definition correctly captures the nature of compounds, which are substances formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded in fixed ratios, resulting in distinct properties that differ from those of the individual elements.