Are the chemical properties of a compound typically the same as those of the elements from which it is formed?

• A. Compounds have chemical properties that are a simple average of their elements.
• B. Yes, compounds always retain the chemical properties of their elements.
• C. No, compounds usually have different chemical properties than their constituent elements.
• D. Compounds have unpredictable chemical properties unrelated to their elements.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical properties describe how a substance reacts chemically with other substances, including reactivity, acidity, basicity, and more.
2. Recall that when elements combine to form a compound, they undergo chemical bonding which changes the arrangement and interactions of atoms.
3. Recognize that this new arrangement in compounds leads to new chemical properties that are often very different from those of the individual elements.
4. Note that compounds do not simply average the properties of their elements; instead, they exhibit unique properties due to the new chemical structure.
5. Conclude that the correct understanding is that compounds usually have different chemical properties than their constituent elements.