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A compound consists of atoms of two or more elements combined in a small, whole-number ratio.Atoms of one element differ in properties from atoms of all other elements.(credit: modification of work by “slgckgc”/Flickr) A pre-1982 copper penny (left) contains approximately 3 × 10 22 copper atoms (several dozen are represented as brown spheres at the right), each of which has the same chemical properties. A macroscopic sample of an element contains an incredibly large number of atoms, all of which have identical chemical properties.įigure 1.
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The most foundational chemistry idea of all is atomic theory. Chemical equations provide information about chemical reactions. Chemical formulas depict molecules as well as the composition of compounds. Chemical symbols are used to represent atoms and elements. The core ideas of chemistry are used in many disciplines, ranging from medicine to engineering to forensics to art. Use postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory to explain the laws of definite and multiple proportions.State the postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory.By the end of this section, you will be able to: