Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of compounds?

The characteristic that does not apply to compounds is that they retain the original properties of their components. This is because, when elements combine to form a compound, the resulting substance has entirely different properties from those of the individual elements. For example, sodium and chlorine are both reactive elements with distinct characteristics, but when they combine to form sodium chloride (table salt), the properties of the compound are significantly different from those of either sodium or chlorine alone.

In contrast, compounds are formed from different elements that are chemically combined, which gives them a definitive chemical structure. This chemical structure is specific and consistent, distinguishing one compound from another. The transformation that occurs during the chemical bonding process is what leads to the unique properties of compounds, differentiating them from their constituent elements.