Use of Chemical Compound

A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together in a defined spatial arrangement by chemical bonds.

Chemical compounds can be molecular compounds held together by covalent bonds, salts held together by ionic bonds, inter-metallic compounds held together by metallic bonds, or complexes held together by coordinate covalent bonds. Pure chemical elements are not considered chemical compounds, even if they consist of molecules which contain only multiple atoms of a single element (such as H₂, S₈, etc.), which are called diatomic molecules or polyatomic molecules.

Chemical compounds and their uses

• Sodium fluoride (NaF) in toothpaste
• Sodium lauryl sulphate (C₁₂H₂₅SO₄Na) in soap
• Sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) in foods
• Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as white pigment in paint
• Vinegar (CH₃COOH, acetic acid; ethanoic acid) in foods
• Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in bleach
• Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) in fertiliser
• Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) in cola
• Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) in alcoholic drinks
• Methane (CH₄) to burn for fuel in gas boilers and hobs
• Butane (C₄H₁₀) as lighter fuel
• Octane (C₈H₁₈) as automobile fuel
• Phenol (C₆H₅OH) in antiseptics