In chemistry, compound is a substance formed by the combination of elements in fixed proportions; terminologically, there are some 800+ named types of compounds. [1]

Quotes
The following are related quotes:

“The image of elective affinities proposes the likeness between the attraction of charged radicals, on the one hand, and the attraction of pairs of persons, on the other—an attraction that proceeds chiastically (Ѻ), over and against their original linkages and domiciles, which in the first instance are chemical compounds and in the second instance aristocratic manor-houses.”

— Stanley Corngold (2003), “Compulsive Affinities: Goethe, Kafka, Benjamin” [2]

References
1. (a) Daintith, John. (2005). Oxford Dictionary of Chemistry. Oxford University Press.
(b) Compound (search) – IUPAC Goldbook.
2. Corngold, Stanley. (2003). “Compulsive Affinities: Goethe, Kafka, Benjamin”, Keynote Address, Conference: “Distortion”, University of Western Ontario, Apr 6.

External links
● Chemical compound – Wikipedia.