Which statement best explains why compounds have different properties from the elements that form them?

 Compounds have different properties from the elements that form them because they involve atoms of different elements coming together to form a completely new substance with its own unique physical and chemical properties. When atoms of different elements chemically combine, they do so through chemical bonds, resulting in a new arrangement of electrons and a different structure compared to the individual elements. This structural change affects the way the atoms interact with other substances and how they behave under various conditions.

For instance, sodium is a highly reactive metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas, but when they combine to form sodium chloride (table salt), the resulting compound is neither reactive nor poisonous and is safe for consumption. Thus, the properties of sodium chloride are distinctly different from those of its constituent elements, sodium and chlorine