Water is a compound, not an element. A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically bonded together. In the case of water, it is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, which is why its chemical formula is H2O.
An element, on the other hand, is a pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom. Examples of elements include hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C). Since water is composed of two different types of atoms (hydrogen and oxygen) chemically bonded together, it is classified as a compound.
Understanding the difference between elements and compounds is fundamental in chemistry. Elements are the simplest forms of matter and cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Compounds, like water, can be broken down into their constituent elements through chemical reactions, such as electrolysis, which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.