The one thing solutions, mixtures, and compounds all have in common is that they are a combination of different elements on the periodic table. They are all made up of more than one type of atom. But what are the differences?
A compound is the result of two or more elements that have been chemically bonded. Things like H20 (water) or C3H8 (propane). They are bonded either covalently (sharing electrons such as water) or ionically (positive and negative charged atoms coming together such as NaCl).
A mixture is when you mix two or more substances, but you do not chemically bond them. This can be anything from salt and sand mixed together to mixing cocaine and non-dairy creamer. You know...if you're into that kind of thing. The important thing is that, at least on a small scale, the different substances are still distinguishable.
A solution is the result of when you dissolve a substance into a liquid. Dissolving happens when the solute (such as salt, NaCl) has its atoms separated by the solvent (such as water). The positively-charged hydrogen atoms in water pull on the chlorine atoms while the negatively-charged oxygen pulls on the sodium, breaking the ionic bond of salt, and dissolving the salt into the water.
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