You are given two liquids, one a solution and the other a compound. How will you distinguish the solution from the compound?

(i) In a compound, two or more elements are chemically bound together. However, in a solution, there are few substances that do not chemically bound together as compounds do (molecules or compounds in a solution may have weak interactions between them, but it is different from the chemical binding of elements in compounds).

(ii) In a compound, elements are present in defined ratio, but in a solution, the components in it have not necessarily to be present in definite amounts.

(iii) The components in a solution can be separated in physical methods, but in a compound, this cannot be done. They may be separated by chemical means.

(iv) Compared to compounds, solutions have two phases called solutes and the solvent.