How do the chemical properties of a compound generally compare to the properties of the elements that make it up?

• A. Compounds usually have chemical properties that are different from those of their constituent elements.
• B. Compounds have chemical properties that are a simple average of their constituent elements.
• C. Compounds always retain the chemical properties of their constituent elements.
• D. Compounds have chemical properties that are identical to the most reactive element present.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a compound is a substance formed when two or more elements chemically combine in fixed proportions.
2. Recall that the chemical properties of elements describe how they react with other substances, which are unique to each element.
3. Recognize that when elements form a compound, their atoms interact and create new chemical bonds, resulting in a substance with new properties.
4. Note that these new chemical properties of the compound are generally different from those of the individual elements because the compound behaves as a distinct substance.
5. Therefore, the chemical properties of a compound are not simply averages or identical to any one element, but rather unique characteristics that arise from the combination of its constituent elements.