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What must occur for an element to be classified as a compound?

  1. It contains only one type of atom

  2. It must be made up of two or more elements chemically bonded

  3. It should only consist of gases

  4. It must be a liquid at room temperature

The correct answer is: It must be made up of two or more elements chemically bonded

For an element to be classified as a compound, it must be composed of two or more different elements that are chemically bonded together. This chemical bonding can occur through various types of interactions, such as ionic or covalent bonds, resulting in a substance with distinct properties different from the individual elements that comprise it. Compounds can be found in various physical forms, including solids, liquids, or gases, and the specific state at room temperature does not determine whether a substance is classified as a compound. As a result, the presence of different elements and their bonding structure is the key factor in defining compounds, rather than the type of matter they consist of or their physical state.