Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes a chemical compound from an element?
- A) A compound can be chemically decomposed into simpler substances, whereas an element cannot be broken down by chemical means.
- B) A compound consists of only one kind of atom, whereas an element consists of multiple types of bonded atoms.
- C) A compound can be separated into its constituent components by physical methods, whereas an element requires chemical reactions.
- D) A compound always retains the individual chemical properties of the elements that formed it, whereas an element does not.
